Preventing rental fraud

Rental fraud

Rental fraud occurs when tenants are tricked into paying upfront fees, deposits or rent to criminals, who often pretend to be landlords or letting agents for properties they do not own.

Fraudsters may create fake property listings using photos and details copied from legitimate adverts, or they may respond to online requests for rental properties, particularly through social media platforms.

How to protect yourself

To reduce the risk of rental fraud, tenants should always carry out checks before making any payment. This includes researching the letting agent, landlord or property using trusted sources such as official websites, review platforms or by contacting the company directly using publicly listed contact details.

Posting requests for rental properties on social media or online forums can increase your risk of being targeted and is not recommended.

---

Important information

At Goodfellows, we will never request payment via social media or ask you to share sensitive financial information, such as full payment card details, through unsecured channels.

All payments are handled through official processes via our branches. If you are ever unsure whether a message or request is genuine, you should contact your local branch directly using verified contact details and speak to a member of the team.

---

Stay vigilant

It is important to remain alert when searching for a rental property to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. For further advice and to report suspicious activity, you can visit the Action Fraud website.

Action Fraud    Contact local branch