Latest news with #Gumtree
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Rental fraud: the Facebook and Gumtree scam targeting desperate tenants
You're desperately hunting for somewhere to live and scouring rental sites. The odds are stacked against you. Rents are high everywhere – in London tenants are paying almost £1,000 for a shoe cupboard with a bed – and living rooms have gone from a regular commodity to a luxury. But matters are made worse by scammers. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Young people now account for three-quarters of rental fraud, according to data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). Last year alone almost £9m was lost across about 5,000 reported cases. Recently, the BBC reported how a family had lost £2,000 after responding to a scam advert on the listings website Gumtree – the criminals had even shown them round the property before taking the money. Most scams take place through websites where individuals can advertise directly, and at no cost, rather than the big property websites. And, as would-be tenants turn to social media to look for rooms, so do scammers posing as individual tenants or landlords to trap unsuspecting victims. Some, such as Spareroom, offer users advice on how to spot a scam. There are variations, but a common version involves someone posing as a landlord and posting on dedicated Facebook rental groups, or Gumtree, offering a cheap place to rent. Sometimes they can be studio flats, other times they'll advertise a room in a two-, three-, sometimes four-bed flat. Once you message them with interest, they will typically put you in touch with the current 'tenant' through a mobile number. The tenant will explain more details about the property, sometimes even accompanied by a video of a flat. However, when you ask to view the property they'll be strangely unavailable – suddenly a parent has died, they're abroad, or they're just very busy. They will ask you to pay the deposit and often put pressure on you to act quickly. Do not pay any deposit upfront without seeing a property, no matter how desperate you are to find a home. Make sure you go to see any property before you commit to renting. Gumtree advises: 'Always ask to see proof of ownership, or the landlord's right to let, and ensure a tenancy agreement is in place before paying deposits or holding fees.' Stand your ground; if something seems fishy, it probably is. On social media, or listing websites, check when the landlord's profile was created. How long have they been active? Do they seem to be advertising multiple properties with similar messages? What comes up when you search their name? If a landlord is claiming to be part of the NRLA, you can check whether their accreditation is legitimate here. Report fraudulent accounts to Facebook and Gumtree.
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- South Wales Argus
AirBNB scam traumatises NHS nurse moving in to new home
Ben Echianu was desperate to find a property big enough for his three kids to stay over after breaking up with his partner. After spotting a Gumtree ad for the three-bedroom property for £750 per month in central Manchester, Ben got in touch with a woman claiming to be called Amy. Footage shows the 43-year-old being shown around the central Manchester house on June 19th by Amy who claimed to own it. (Image: Kennedy News & Media) Ben paid £1,000 through bank transfer and £1,000 in cash to secure the semi-detached home but says Amy stopped replying three days before his move-in date of July 1st The baffled NHS worker admitted he then became 'worried' and visited the property on June 29th and said he saw 'other people' in the house. Ben said he then spoke to a neighbour who claimed the property was being used as an Airbnb accommodation and they hadn't heard of Amy. The property can be found on Airbnb and for short-term rental by property management firm City Superhost. Since calling City Superhost to report the incident last week, the management firm say they've changed the locks to the property. Ben, who currently lives with a friend, says he's 'traumatised' by the incident and claims he's been contacted by other scam victims targeted by the same woman. Airbnb says they have removed a user from their platform following an internal investigation and Gumtree say they encourage people to report suspicious behaviour so their 'dedicated trust and safety team' can investigate. Greater Manchester Police confirmed the incident is being investigated as an alleged fraud by the Action Fraud team. Ben, from Chorlton, Greater Manchester, said: "When I realised it was a scam, it was a shock. I was really traumatised. "Moving to this property meant so much to me. I recently separated with my partner so I needed a bigger place where my kids can come and sleep over. "When she stopped responding to me I got really worried. All I needed to know is if the inventory appointment on Sunday would go ahead. "The property is close to where I play football so the day before the meeting [Saturday] I went there and low and behold people were already in the property. "I saw a lady lying on the sofa and when I knocked on the door she ran upstairs straight away and didn't want to answer. "One of the lodgers asked what the problem was, I asked for Amy and she said she didn't know anyone called that and that this was a short-term rental. "She may have rented it in the past and made a copy of the key so she might check when the place is available and then make appointments with people. "When I got back she still wasn't picking up so I thought, 'this isn't normal' and 'it's too good to be true'. The price was way below what is normal there. "I spoke to a lady who lives beside the property [on Sunday] and she said to the best of her knowledge the house is used for Airbnb. "She knows the owners and they've handed it over to a company that manages it. That's when I realised it was a scam." Ben said he could pay the £2,000 deposit within four days of the first viewing and was then told his application had been accepted the next morning. He returned to the property to sign the tenancy agreement in the last week of June and says Amy opened the home with a set of keys. A move-in date of July 1st was agreed and an inventory meeting was scheduled for two days earlier, but Ben says Amy stopped responding to his texts and calls. Ben says he will be able to claim £1,000 back from his bank but the £1,000 he won't be able to recoup the £1,000 he paid in cash. The devastated footy fan believes Amy has previously stayed at the property, had a key cut, then returned when the house was empty to show him around and pose as the landlord. City Superhost believes the scammer faked the house viewings during the period she had booked to stay. A City Superhost spokesman said: "We think somebody has booked it and during their stay has had a number of people [round] and she's acted as an estate agent. "We're responsible for keeping the properties well maintained, well looked after and secure so when something like this happens our first thought is security and the safety of the guests and any future guests. "We've got both sets of locks changed, we've spoken with the neighbour who has a camera and she's been very helpful and we're in communication with the police. "Most people are here for genuine reasons, whether it's visiting friends and family, for tourism or events that are on. "Like any industry, if you've got one person who wants to upset things then they're going to try and do it. "City Superhost manages nearly 100 properties and this is the first time something like this has ever happened. "We're Airbnb superhosts and 99 per cent of guests are fantastic and just want to use the property." Desperate to stop it happening to anyone else, Ben says he hopes she will face the legal consequences of her actions soon. Ben said: "There is a housing crisis and cost-of-living crisis so when people see something where it's quite cheap she plays on their vulnerability. "It makes it worse that I have heard other people have been scammed. I want to make sure she's apprehended. She's heartless. "I don't think she knew I was taking the video of the property so I captured her face and everything." Airbnb say they have 'trust and safety teams' to identify fraud on their platform and encourage users to report suspicious activity. The platform runs annual campaigns with online safety experts to warn users of third-party scams and have warned against unusually cheap deals or high deposits. A spokesperson for Gumtree UK said: "At Gumtree, the safety of our users is our absolute priority, and we do not tolerate fraudulent activity on our platform. "We require that property ads on our site comply with government regulations for property advertising, and we list prominent safety advice for prospective tenants on our website, which recommends that all potential tenants check the relevant paperwork, ask to see proof of ownership, and ensure a tenancy agreement is in place before paying deposits or holding fees. "We strongly urge anyone who thinks they may have come across a scam or experiences suspicious behaviour to report it to us immediately via the 'Report' button listed next to all ads. "Our dedicated trust and safety team will investigate and take necessary action, such as removing adverts and blocking offending users, and supporting law enforcement in their investigations. "We encourage all our users to read more about our posting policies and guidance for searching for properties safely online on our help desk: A spokesperson for said: "In the very rare and unfortunate instance that a customer engages in unlawful behaviour at a property they have booked on our site, we offer support where needed and will cooperate with law enforcement as required. "Our guest management tool also allows partners to be able to instantly report guest misconduct and when necessary we will block the responsible customer account on our platform."
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gen Z covet DVDs and CDs with nearly three-quarters purchasing physical media in the past year
Sales of physical media are booming, sparked by those aged 13 to 28. In an era of gaming, film, music and TV via the internet, Britons are now hankering after owning tangible goods. Some 54 per cent have bought a physical media item in the past year – spending an average £273.80, a Gumtree poll has found. DVDs and CDs were most popular, with a quarter of buyers snapping these up. This was followed by computer games (22 per cent) and vinyl records (14 per cent). The retro revival is being led by Gen Z – those aged 13 to 28 – with nearly three-quarters purchasing at least one physical media item in the past year. Gumtree says 66 per cent of those aged 29 to 44, 52 per cent of 45 to 60-year-olds and 35 per cent of 60 to 79-year-olds have also bought some, the survey of 2,000 people found. A surge in vintage formats has also led to a rise of old tech being bought to use them. Some 15 per cent of Gen Z have purchased a CD player and a similar number have obtained a record player. The revival has been sparked by the idea of being able to own, feel and display such items, with 30 per cent citing this, with nostalgic reasons coming not far behind. One in five bought physical media because of their obsession with the 1990s and love of collecting items from that era. Kim Faura, from Gumtree, says: 'The 1990s revival is more than a fashion moment – it's changing how Britons consume media. 'The desire for the tangible and nostalgic is pulling people back to physical formats, from CDs to Walkmans.'
Scottish Sun
12-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
How to make £5k in extra cash for summer from earning from your sun lounger to getting paid to water plants
We share success stories and reveal how you can cash in by doing a few extra jobs CASH IN How to make £5k in extra cash for summer from earning from your sun lounger to getting paid to water plants Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) YOU can avoid the summer holiday pinch with these easy ways to earn extra money. Most can be done from home and you can even involve your kids. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Suzy Greenwood stays in a campervan while renting her home Credit: Sue Porter You can currently earn £1,000 from side-hustles tax free, and this will rise to £3,000 from next April. Here, Mel Hunter reports success stories and reveals how you can cash in by doing a few extra jobs. Archie, 8, made £3k from a market stall MAKE money with your kids — and teach them about managing finances at the same time. Selling old toys, handmade crafts or even lemonade can be a fun way to earn money. 5 Archie, 8, has made more than £3,000 since setting up his own market stall, alongside regular traders 18 months ago Credit: supplied Eight-year-old Archie from Market Harborough, Leics, has made more than £3,000 since setting up his own market stall, alongside regular traders 18 months ago. He set up his first stall in Harborough Market in March last year, selling old toys. Now he flogs games he and his friends no longer want to keep, too. He uses his profits to buy jewellery, fidget toys, sweets and keyrings to resell. Mum Jodie, 45, a digital marketing manager, says: 'He still does normal eight-year-old things, like spending time with friends and playing football, but alongside that he's beginning a profitable side hustle. It's amazing.' Archie keeps track of his money via his GoHenry account, a financial app and card for kids. How a 'Car Sitter' Is Saving New Yorkers From Costly Parking Fines Cash in on demand for seasonal items HAVE a clearout and flog in-demand seasonal items. Online marketplace Gumtree says listings for items such as barbecues, lawnmowers, hoses, and garden furniture sets soar over summer. We've spotted used lawnmowers for £20 and garden hose reels for £30. Sell spring and summer clothes on sites like Vinted or Depop, and kids games on eBay. Professional organiser Karen Powell, dubbed The Organising Lady, said: 'Wash, iron and display clothes on hangers, before taking pictures. 'With unwanted toys, put any unboxed bits in bags. Check you have all the pieces for kits or jigsaws. Mention any missing pieces when you list your item.' Gather old tech, like phones and tablets, wipe them clear of your details by backing up your information, removing linked accounts and restoring factory settings, and sell on sites like Music Magpie. A decent quality iPhone 14 can go for around £230. Use meal vouchers in hols FAMILIES spend an extra £300 on food over the summer, according to Iceland. Save money by taking your free school meal vouchers to bigger Iceland stores. Spend a minimum of £15 and get an extra £5 on your Iceland Bonus card. Use apps like HyperJar, Cheddar and JamDoughnut to buy supermarket gift cards and earn cashback. With Cheddar, buy a Tesco gift card worth any amount and get four per cent cashback. So if you buy a card for £100, you get £4 back. Do surveys on sun lounger MAKE money from your sofa or sun lounger by taking part in surveys or online focus groups. Companies like Angelfish Opinions, Saros or Research Opinions, can pay up to £100, often as an e-gift card. Your views on brands and experiences are valuable, and can help shape the future. At Angelfish Opinions, you can apply to be interviewed about eating out for a £70 e-gift card. And check out competitions sites, such as Latest Free Stuff and Magic Freebies. 'I move into my van and rent my house for £5k' RENT out your spare room, or even move out so others can move in, to make money. This is what Suzy Greenwood does. The PR manager, who also runs the Seaflowers guesthouse in Frogmore, Devon, makes around £5,000 from May to September by moving out of her home into a VW Caddy. She rents out her one-bed home — an annex attached to the riverside guesthouse — on Airbnb and makes about £300 a weekend after fees. Suzy, 39, said: 'Moving to the van means I can take advantage of the extra summer demand. I make about £300 a weekend after Airbnb fees and cleaning costs. 'Airbnb takes 20 per cent, so if I get a direct booking I split the benefit with guests, giving them a ten per cent discount.' Want to rent out a spare room? The Government's Rent A Room scheme lets you earn up to £7,500 per year tax-free. Or rent out your parking space with a platform such as YourParkingSpace or JustPark. JustPark hosts make an average of £320 a year. 'I made £100 in a week doing small jobs locally' YOU can be paid to water plants, mow the lawn or even look after pets. Check local Facebook groups and apps like Nextdoor and Airtasker to find adverts for small jobs. 5 Jo Atwell uses the Nextdoor app and does cleaning, gardening and runs errands for her older neighbour, earning about £12 an hour Credit: supplied Airtasker reckons you could make up to £554 a month doing two gardening jobs a week. Jo Atwell, 38, from Peterborough, uses the Nextdoor app and does cleaning, gardening and runs errands for her older neighbour, earning about £12 an hour. She made £100 in her first week this summer, which will pay for a camping trip for her and daughter Reanna, 20. Jo said: 'I want- ed to take Reanna camping in Scotland and it's now possible thanks to the money I've earned via Nextdoor.' John Odiaka, 28, from Coventry, picks up seasonal work, doing removals and gardening via the casual jobs app Airtasker, which sees activity soar by nearly a third in the summer. 'At this time of year, I might do two or three jobs a day, earning up to £2,000 a month,' he said. Last summer, he made £5,000. BEST FIRMS FOR HAGGLING THE top firms to haggle with on bills have been revealed by MoneySaving Expert Martin Lewis – and you could save hundreds of pounds. The money saving website asked 5,000 readers if they got a discount on bills after haggling. 5 AA Breakdown ranked highest for top firms to haggle with on bills Credit: Alamy AA Breakdown ranked highest, with 87 per cent of customers negotiating better deals, followed by Virgin Media and RAC Breakdown, both at 84 per cent. Meanwhile Hastings Direct came with a 77 per cent success rate, Admiral and TalkTalk with 75 per cent, AA Insurance at 74 per cent, Green Flag at 73 per cent, and Sky Mobile and NOW at 72 per cent. The key to haggling success is knowing the market value of services and asking companies to match or beat it. Martin said: 'Breakdown cover, broadband and TV, mobile, and car and home insurance providers are the fab four. With all of them, the important first step is to benchmark a realistic quote you can ask them to match or beat. The aim of haggling in these sectors is all about keeping the exact service you have (or bettering it) and paying less. 'There's no point if you're within contract – you're trapped. So wait until you're no longer locked in.' Customers can make a note in their diary a month or two before a contract ends as you should be able to negotiate a good deal. You can use comparison sites such as MoneySupermarket or Comparethemarket to check out cheaper options. James Flanders QUICKER MOBILE COMPO MOBILE and broadband customers could resolve issues or get compensation more quickly under new rules being introduced by the telecoms regulator. Currently, anyone who complains but doesn't get a response or isn't happy with the answer must wait eight weeks before they can take the issue to an ombudsman. 5 Mobile and broadband customers could resolve issues or get compensation more quickly under new rules being introduced by the telecoms regulator Credit: Getty Images - Getty However, Ofcom wants to reduce this time to six weeks and the change will come into play in April 2026. Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, described the move as 'positive'. She said: 'Recent Which? research found eight in ten suffered a connection issue with their broadband provider in the year to January 2025. 'Providers need to up their game so problems are resolved as quickly as possible.' Under current rules, if your supplier does not resolve the issue after eight weeks, you can take your case to one of two Alternative Dispute Resolution schemes. Customers can escalate issues to either the Communications Ombudsman or the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme. Resolving an issue through the ombudsman can lead to a simple apology, or you could be entitled to some compensation. If you are not happy with how your complaint has been resolved, you can switch providers. Laura McGuire
The Sun
10-07-2025
- The Sun
I was conned out of £2,000 on new home that was someone ELSE'S Airbnb – just days before moving in
AN NHS nurse was conned out of £2,000 after moving into a new home - before finding out it was already being rented as Airbnb. Ben Echianu, 43, was left 'traumatised' after he was duped by a woman who showed him around the property and claimed to own it. 8 8 8 The dad-of-three had hoped the £750-a-month rental would give him a fresh start and space for his kids to stay over following a break-up with his partner. But just days before move-in day, the so-called landlady vanished – and when Ben turned up at the house, he found other people living inside. 'I saw a lady lying on the sofa and when I knocked on the door, she ran upstairs straight away and didn't want to answer,' Ben said. 'One of the lodgers asked what the problem was, I asked for Amy and she said she didn't know anyone called that and that this was a short-term rental... That's when I realised I'd been scammed.' The three-bed semi in central Manchester was listed on Gumtree, where Ben responded to the ad and arranged a viewing on June 19. Footage shows 'Amy' giving him a tour of the house. Convinced it was legitimate, Ben transferred £1,000 by bank and handed over another £1,000 in cash to secure the deal. He was due to move in on July 1, with an inventory check scheduled for June 29 – but Amy stopped replying to texts and calls three days before. Worried, Ben went to check the property in person on June 29 – and was stunned to see it already occupied. "The property is close to where I play football so the day before the meeting I went there and low and behold people were already in the property. 'When I saw people already in the property, I knew something was off. A neighbour later told him the house had been used as an Airbnb and was managed by a firm called City Superhost – not privately rented out. Ben said: 'I was really traumatised" "Moving to this property meant so much to me. I recently separated with my partner so I needed a bigger place where my kids can come and sleep over." The scammer is believed to have stayed at the property as a guest, made a copy of the keys, and returned when it was empty to pose as the owner. How to avoid falling for the same rental scam: Google the address to see if it's listed elsewhere as a holiday rental or under different names. Verify the landlord by asking for official ID and proof of ownership or management (e.g. utility bill, land registry document). Speak to neighbours and have chats with locals that can confirm who actually lives. Avoid handing over money, especially in cash, without a signed tenancy agreement. Scammers often rush you, take your time to verify details and don't be afraid to walk away. Pay by card or secure transfer through reputable platforms, never via cash or untraceable methods. City Superhost confirmed the property was being rented on Airbnb and say they've since changed the locks and contacted police. A spokesperson said: 'We think somebody has booked it and during their stay has had a number of people [round] and she's acted as an estate agent. Since calling City Superhost to report the incident last week, the management firm say they've changed the locks to the property. Ben says he has since been contacted by other victims who claim the same woman tricked them too. "There is a housing crisis and cost-of-living crisis so when people see something where it's quite cheap she plays on their vulnerability. 'She's heartless," he said. Greater Manchester Police says the incident has been reported to Action Fraud and is under investigation. Airbnb confirmed a user has been removed from the platform following an internal probe. Gumtree said it 'does not tolerate fraudulent activity' and urges users to report scams using its 'Report' button. Ben says he may be able to get back the £1,000 sent by bank, but the other £1,000 in cash is likely lost. City Superhost said this is the first time anything like this has happened across the nearly 100 properties it manages. The company added: 'Most guests are genuine, but occasionally someone will try to abuse the system. We acted fast to secure the property and support anyone affected.' Ben is urging others to be on guard when renting privately – and says he's still trying to find a new home. 8 8 8 8
