I thought I'd got my dream flat - so did 23 others
Summary
A group of renters in London paid large deposits for the same flat but never received keys because scammers were advertising the property multiple times. Around 23 people were affected, losing thousands of pounds each, as rental fraud cases have risen in the UK recently.Key Facts
- Mide Awosika and two flatmates paid £12,000 to rent a four-bedroom flat in Poplar, east London.
- On moving day, they found no keys and at least nine other groups claiming rights to the same flat.
- The rental agent, Derrick Fringe, asked for large upfront payments and later stopped communicating.
- In total, 23 people contacted Awosika after similar scams linked to this property and agent.
- Rental fraud cases reported in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland rose from 4,642 in 2021 to 4,178 in 2025, with victims losing nearly £14.5 million.
- Victims describe feeling pressured by the competitive London rental market and uneasy about trusting online listings.
- Platforms like Zoopla and OpenRent had the flat listed, with OpenRent stating they have processes to verify landlords.
- Police were contacted after the scam was uncovered, but the landlord and agent have not responded publicly.
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