American Pays £1.3k for Edinburgh Flat That Turns Out to Be a Scam
An American student arrives in Edinburgh only to discover her rented flat doesn’t exist, leaving her in a tough spot.
Edinburgh, Scotland, Scam, Student Housing, Rental Fraud
Edinburgh: So, there’s this American woman, Olivia, who thought she had it all figured out. She flew in from Chicago, ready to start her new life and studies at Napier University. But guess what? The flat she rented? It didn’t even exist!
Olivia arrived on January 6, all excited to pick up her keys. But when she got to the address, it was just a family home. They didn’t rent out any rooms. Can you imagine? She had already forked out £1,366 for the deposit and first two months’ rent!
She found the place through social media, chatting with someone she thought was her future roommate. But when she tried to reach out on the day she was supposed to move in, they blocked her. Talk about a nightmare!
Police Scotland were nice enough, but they told her there wasn’t much they could do since the scam happened while she was still in the States. They suggested she contact the authorities back home.
Olivia felt totally blindsided. She had done her homework, joined Facebook groups, and even found a pet-friendly place for her cat, Ladybug. But the first red flag was when the person quoted the rent in Euros. She thought it was a bit odd but went along with it.
They sent her videos and pictures that looked legit, and she even got a lease that her friends in Edinburgh said seemed normal. She signed it and sent over the money, thinking she was all set.
But when she arrived, it all fell apart. The landlord didn’t respond, and the supposed roommate blocked her. After a long journey with her cat, she was left with nothing. It was a tough day for her.
Olivia’s been sharing her story to warn others. She wants everyone to know that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. She’s learned the hard way, but thankfully, she has friends in Edinburgh who are helping her out.
Even though she’s had a rough start, Olivia hasn’t lost hope. She’s still looking forward to her adventure in Scotland, just with a bit more caution this time around.