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TribblePimp t1_iucjzi6 wrote

Reply to comment by notfrancisard in LPT Request: How to spot rental scams by Dauoa_Static

Nope, this isn’t paranoid. Scammer pressurises the renter to pay by bank transfer in advance, then disappears with the money.

Colleges routinely warn new students about these scams, as it’s very easy to fall. Often the “estate agent” who shows the renter around is hired help, and has no idea they’re part of a scam. The scammer online is the one who pressures for payment.

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notfrancisard t1_iueh3y3 wrote

Thanks for elaborating. I was unaware of a way that they could run off with your money. Though, I will say that a bank transfer isn’t exactly the most inconspicuous way to steal.

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TribblePimp t1_iuh1bej wrote

And then the money gets transferred rapidly through several accounts, increasingly including mule accounts (“Hi! We’ll slip you £20 if you just let us rest our £800 in your account overnight, then pay it to us in cash”).

So that bank transfer joins the vast ocean of financial fraud which banks and police don’t have any tools to trace or prevent.

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notfrancisard t1_iuh8ak5 wrote

Dang. I actually heard of people that have been approached for that, but they didn’t go for it cause they didn’t see why someone would give them 100 to receive and withdraw 1k... stay safe out there y’all.

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