What Caused the Victim's Heartbreak After Losing Savings to a Conman?
After losing almost £20,000 of his inheritance in a rental fraud, a man complained of “embarrassment and shame.” He was kicked out of a flat barely three weeks after moving in.
How Was Trust Betrayed in the Rental Arrangement?
Craig Spokes, 36, of Northampton, paid Samy Daim, the landlord, a year’s rent upfront for a London apartment. Less than a month after moving in, Mr. Spokes got notice to depart, with all his belongings placed on the street without ceremony.
“Everything was out on the street by 08:30,” he said. “I was in so much pain and it was a whirl-around. I was made to feel as though I was a criminal.”
How Did the Scam Unravel?
Mr. Daim, 27, has yet to reply to Mr. Spokes. The police reporting organisation for scams, Action Fraud, said it would not advise looking into this alarming situation.
Having left his job as a cruise ship entertainment, Mr. Spokes was looking for a fresh start in London in October 2023. He explained how Mr. Daim had persuaded him he was the landlord of a Bloomsbury flat, providing a £500 discount on the monthly rent should he pay it ahead of time.
Unknown to Mr. Spokes, Mr. Daim was only a tenant, renting the apartment from the landlord. Still, he gave Mr. Spokes the property keys so he could move in.
What Happened During the Shocking Eviction?
Court records show that Mr. Daim sent bailiffs to the apartment after owing almost £14,000 in rent to the actual landlord. Although the flat was posted on a rental agency website, Mr. Spokes paid £19,500 straight to Mr. Daim, avoiding the agency’s payment mechanism to cover the deposit and the rent.
Following the death of his father, Barry, this money came from his inheritance after cancer claimed his life. But one morning, when Mr. Spokes got ready for work, bailiffs representing the actual landlord suddenly kicked him out.
How Did the Scam Impact the Victim Emotionally?
Mr. Spokes’s emotional fallout from this event has been quite severe. “I felt so humiliated and ashamed that I had fallen for this scam,” he said. For days following, he said he could hardly leave his house: “Days would go by, and I couldn’t even go out.”
Since the eviction, Mr. Daim has been unresponsive; his social media profiles point to a lavish, jet-setting existence. Mr. Spokes has stayed quiet despite his efforts to get in touch.
Why Did the Victim Feel Let Down by Authorities?
Following his horrific event, Mr. Spokes reported it to the Metropolitan Police, who recommended he report it to Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud. Action Fraud merely evaluates cases for possible police inquiry; it does not have investigative authority.
This specific issue was not referred for more investigation, which left Mr. Spokes “let down” by the police, who he feels have not given his matter any thought.
“Action Fraud says reports are examined against criteria including ‘the victim’s vulnerability,'” he added. Still, he believed they handled my case as if it weren’t that serious of a crime.”
What Do Statistics Say About Rental Fraud?
Action Fraud highlighted the frequency of rental fraud by classifying 5,093 reports in 2023 as such. Mr. Spokes also voiced dismay at his bank, Kroo, which told him it would not reimburse the lost money. The bank said, “Kroo has several controls in place to manage financial crime and protect consumer funds.”
Mr. Spokes considered when he made the switch and said he felt he had “double-checked” everything beforehand. “But all the material I had been given was part of the fraud,” he said regretfully.
What Expert Advice Is Available for Renters?
Chief executive officer of Citizens Guidance West Northamptonshire and Cherwell Pat Coomber-Wood gave insightful guidance to anyone negotiating the rental market. “Everyone under pressure to sign a contract should stop; it’s better to miss out than be scammed,” she advised.
She also advised doing a £3 land registry search to confirm whether the individual you are dealing with really owns the property.
