Mandurah couple lose thousands on scam Gumtree ad

He works as a bricklayer and she as a bartender and after weeks of searching and applying for rentals in a desperately competitive market, they were excited to be offered a house.

But now they are $2000 out of pocket after handing money to an advertiser on popular buy-and-sell site Gumtree.

They were told the money would secure them a three bedroom, one bathroom home for rent on Fletcher Way in Mandurah.

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"The Gumtree advertiser said he was a FIFO worker and was away at the moment but whoever wants it first gets it," the woman, who didn't want to be named, told the Mail.

"There was a lawyer involved, it was all professional, all written up perfectly and properly so we just believed it to be true.

"We paid the money and were told to put our stuff in the shed and keys would be delivered in the next two days.

"While we were at the property, an agent came and told us we hadn't been dealing with the owner but that we had been scammed.

"This guy is finding whatever rentals are available, posing as the owner and trying to get people to lease the house."

Mandurah Estate Agency agent Ann Atkinson said the scammer replicated a property her agency had for rent.

"He used the photos from the listing to create an ad," Ms Atkinson said.

"There are not that many properties around and people are getting desperate.

"When people are desperate and young and inexperienced, they believe this sort of stuff and people are being taken advantage of."

It has sparked a reminder from consumer groups to view properties in person where possible, and meet with property managers.

Latest figures from Scamwatch reveal that over the past two years more than 200 rental scams have been reported, with $120,000 in losses.

The couple who were scammed say their search for a rental in Mandurah has been disheartening.

"Looking for rentals is so hard of itself anyway," the woman said.

"We applied to practically any and all in our budget, every property we went to there were the same couples, which is why we were jumping with glee over this one.

"Obviously we're heartbroken by what happened. We don't want to start looking again but obviously you've got to push through it and get back out there."

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The couple is currently living with her family in Greenfields.

Their dream house is anything that will be a home to the family they one day hope to start.

Ms Atkinson said people in Mandurah were getting desperate for rental properties.

"We only have two houses to rent at the moment and people are lining up for them, that's out of a rent roll of about 430 properties," she said.

"Young people can't get in so they're actually offering more money. There is just nothing around."

She said many people who worked in WA could no longer fly home to the eastern states so were starting to relocate.

"People are just walking in off the street asking for four bedroom homes so they can bring their families over."

She said many people lost money due to rental scams.

Just last Friday she had another call from a man asking why they were advertising a Wannanup property that the owner was also advertising on Gumtree.

"I asked what name of the owner is and he told me and I said that's not the owner's name."

Other agencies have reported similar incidents.

A Consumer Protection spokesperson told the Mail this type of con had been around for many years.

"Usually it's an exceptionally good deal with cheap weekly rates for a high-quality home and there will be a reason that you cannot view it or meet with the landlord.

"After email correspondence, which may include scans of fake documents to verify the landlord's identity and ownership of the rental property, victims will be asked to transfer or bank deposit the first month's rent and a bond.

"Arrangements for key pick-up, perhaps postal or express delivery, will be given.

"The keys never arrive and if they go to investigate the property they will find there are people already living there who have never heard of the landlord they have been dealing with.

"The victims are then left without accommodation and are often devastated by their monetary loss."

For further information on rental scams visit the WA ScamNet website.