A Queensland mum has been left homeless after she was scammed out of her financial savings in a bid to discover a rental residence.
Gold Coast mom of 4 Patricia, who selected to not be recognized, stated she thought her troubles have been lastly over when she discovered a rental property on-line.
"I discovered it on (Fb) Market, I simply could not discover something on actual property," she stated.
"I wasn't actually anticipating it to be that tough."
A girl contacted Patricia on Fb, providing her a three-bedroom townhouse within the metropolis's north.
The lady then requested for $3000 to cowl the property's bond and 4 weeks price of lease.
"I went by means of all of the procedures, she despatched the appliance kinds to me, I crammed them out and despatched it again," Patricia stated.
"They did look respectable."
After handing over the cash, the Gold Coast mum noticed the identical property marketed elsewhere.
"I bought a maintain of the actual property woman who additionally had the home on the advert, bought a maintain of her and she or he stated do not undergo with it, it is a rip-off," she stated.
"But it surely was too late, I would already despatched the cash."
Unable to seek out one other rental, the mum of 4 has been pressured to sleep in her automobile.
"I've nowhere to go," she stated.
9News understands no less than one other two individuals have fallen sufferer to the identical property advert on Fb Market.
Rental authorities warn that as competitors will increase to discover a residence, an increasing number of scammers are concentrating on on-line rental teams.
Renters are urged to proceed with warning and to deal with landlords with suspicion in the event that they refuse to fulfill in particular person.
Scams to be careful for
All bonds have to be lodged with the Residential Tenancy Authority inside ten days, and brokers should present a receipt.
"The RTA holds all of the bonds for rental properties in Queensland," Sam Galer from the RTA stated.
"Paying it by means of to us, receipts are issued to all events."
The Gold Coast mum stated she feels extremely pissed off by her state of affairs.
"I simply really feel actually offended," she stated.
"A complete yr of financial savings."