London Student Rental Scam Traps 24 Applicants, Prompts Kent Police Investigation
A 20-year-old Queen Mary University student, Mide Awosika, discovered last summer that the 'dream flat' she and two flatmates had secured in Poplar, East London, was also promised to at least nine other groups. Awosika and her flatmates paid a £12,000 deposit for the four-bedroom property, advertised on platforms like Zoopla and OpenRent, only to find no keys on moving day.
The alleged letting agent, identifying as Derrick Fringe, reportedly pressured Awosika's group to pay three months' rent upfront, along with holding and security deposits, citing intense competition. Contact ceased shortly before the scheduled August move-in, with Fringe initially claiming existing tenants refused to vacate.
Awosika's subsequent investigation at the property revealed numerous other groups arriving, all expecting access. She established a WhatsApp group, which has since attracted 23 individuals claiming similar targeting by the same agent and linked to the identical flat.
Rental Fraud Figures Soar Across UK
This incident reflects a broader surge in rental fraud across the UK. Report Fraud figures show that reported losses nearly doubled in five years, from £7.2 million across 4,642 cases in 2021 to £14.5 million from 4,178 cases in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland by 2025. These numbers underscore how economic pressures, particularly in high-demand rental markets like London, are driving desperate tenants into risky online transactions.
Among those in Awosika's WhatsApp group were Freazy Warr, 24, and Nirrhit Pal, 23, who, with three flatmates, transferred £7,200 for the same property. They were warned off by a friend as their moving van approached, discovering other groups already present. Warr noted the intense pressure of London's rental market, which pushes students and those with limited funds to less trustworthy online platforms.
Satchit Warade and another tenant, professionals from Canary Wharf, transferred £9,460. They reported being rushed into a viewing by Fringe and faced similar communication breakdowns before reporting the matter to the police.
The flat was listed via a purported agency, Propertiesmatter.com, which claimed extensive operations but had only two named staff and was not registered with industry body Arla Propertymark. The company address linked to an unrelated firm, which described itself as a 'victim of corporate identity theft'.
Investigation of tenancy documents revealed an email address for the landlord, Edward Robinson, connected to the same account used by the alleged letting agent, Fringe. Neither responded to inquiries, with Robinson declining to answer questions.
While one victim, Samyek, managed to recover most of a £26,000 payment through his bank, many others were not so fortunate. Kent Police are now investigating the case. The National Residential Landlord Association advises vigilance against demands for large upfront payments, stressing the importance of verifying landlord identity, property ownership, and securing signed contracts.
Awosika described the experience as a 'huge amount of money' lost and a 'harrowing' and 'elaborate scam' that has left her profoundly cautious.
