Britons warned of surge in 'shameful' property scam cases costing victims thousands

Cases of criminals deceiving Britons with fake rental property scams have risen sharply over the past year, costing unsuspecting victims thousands of pounds.

Rental fraudsters typically lure victims by advertising properties that either do not exist or do not belong to them. They often use fake details, misleading photos, and offer rents significantly below market rates to attract interest. Scammers frequently request a deposit or first month’s rent upfront—sometimes even arranging fake viewings—before vanishing with the victim’s money.

According to Home Office data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), rental fraud resulted in nearly £9 million in losses last year across almost 5,000 reported cases.

Fraud Minister Lord Hanson condemned the crime, calling it "utterly shameful." He warned that anyone can fall victim, regardless of how tech-savvy or streetwise they may be. "Fraudsters can deceive anyone who doesn’t stop and think before handing over their money," he cautioned.

The NFIB report, covering England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, revealed that nearly half (48%) of victims last year were aged 18 to 29, while another 25% were between 30 and 39.

As rental fraud is particularly prevalent during the spring months, authorities urge renters to remain cautious—advising against making payments before viewing a property in person. Since many scams originate from social media advertisements, the Government is pushing tech companies to take stronger measures to combat fraud on their platforms.

Lord Hanson reaffirmed his commitment to tackling fraud, stating, "I am determined to root out fraud, bring the criminals responsible to justice, and ensure tech companies strengthen protections to curb these scams." He highlighted that the Home Office would continue addressing the issue through its "Stop! Think Fraud" campaign and a new fraud strategy under the Government’s "Plan for Change."

Oliver Shaw, fraud and cybercrime commander at the City of London Police, emphasized the importance of recognizing emerging threats, encouraging public awareness, and promoting fraud prevention strategies.

The figures were released alongside the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) latest initiative to boost online security. As part of its ongoing campaign, the NCSC is urging individuals and small businesses to enable two-step verification (2SV) on key accounts.

Felicity Oswald, the NCSC’s chief operating officer, highlighted the benefits of 2SV, which adds an extra security layer to prevent criminals from accessing accounts, even if passwords are compromised.

"Online fraudsters are constantly developing new ways to trick people into giving up personal information or money," Oswald said. "That’s why we’re launching a nationwide campaign encouraging everyone to enable two-step verification (2SV) to help safeguard their accounts."