I applied for a property on OpenRent. The landlord (a micro estate agent) wants to talk on whatsapp.
They send me a video on whatsapp. It’s a nice flat, very spacious. I ask how much is the rent. Turns out the rent is amazingly reasonable for the size of the flat.
I tell them I would like to apply for the tenancy. They send back an email requesting a holding deposit.
I ask them if we can just use open rent for the holding deposit.
They reply with this long winded email about how they do things differently.
I tell them, open rent advises not to send any money but to go through the open rent platform.
Now they keep emailing, and whatsapping, and calling me, trying to swindle this holding deposit.
I just keep ignoring them, and they keep on contacting me, begging for this goddam holding deposit.
It’s clearly a scam. Should I report this to open rent, or maybe to the police?
and string them along if you have time and dont mind not blocking them [yet]
- ask them if they can first provide proof of ownership of the property, proof of ID, their company details, and references from the previous tenants, and the exact address so you can visit the neighbours/area, as you are really interested but need to reassure yourself they arent a scammer.
-then after they’ve provided all of that, ask if they accept pets - tell them you have a tame woodpecker and an oversized cat
-then…ask if they mind about you being a heavy smoker
-then…ask if they will lend you the holding deposit so you can pay them it
Remember any time they arent scamming you is time they arent scamming other more vulnerable people so anything you can do to waste their time is a public act of good.