March 29th 2023.
Vulnerable Western Australians are being deprived of thousands of dollars while looking for new accommodations as lawbreakers take advantage of the rental crisis.
Steve Castle thought he had found the perfect home he had been desperately looking for - but the actuality was heartbreaking.
"It all appeared authentic, like all the other homes on Facebook," he said.
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The 60-year-old dad located a South Perth residence on Facebook Marketplace last month.
Castle messaged a woman who professed to be a property agent and he transferred her $2000 for six weeks' rent - but he never acquired the keys.
"Too good to be true," he stated.
Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake said criminals are taking advantage of the rental crisis through social media.
"They'll take a photograph from a legitimate listing and they'll post it onto a different website but with their own details and then they'll come up with all sorts of reasons why not to be there and demonstrate you the property," Blake said.
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Consumer Protection got 64 reports of rental scams last year for a loss of more than $63,000.
In just the first three months this year, 19 people have been deceived out of $38,000.
"They are exploiting much more vulnerable people in our society because these are people desperate to get a house," Blake said.
It isn't only potential tenants being defrauded out of thousands of dollars and the security of a safe home - real estate agents are also being deceived.
Desirous renters phoned Rebecca Gulvin about her Yokine unit after scammers cloned her listing onto Facebook.
"I felt dreadful for her, I couldn't help her," Gulvin said.
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If you are being asked to pay more than four weeks rent for bond and two weeks in advance, Consumer Protection states that is illegal and it is feasible you are being scammed.
Castle had one piece of advice.
"All I can say is go through the real estate," he said.
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