Swindon Man Jailed for Fake Rental Scam
A Swindon crook has been slammed with a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for ripping off innocent renters. David Russell, 36, of Fleet Street, conned multiple victims with fake property ads online.
Convicted at Swindon Crown Court
Russell was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on February 20 for five counts of fraud committed between April 2023 and March 2024. He had already admitted guilt before facing the judge.
The scam centred on fake rental listings posted on Facebook. Victims believed they were dealing with genuine landlords or property managers. In reality, Russell was peddling properties mainly listed on Airbnb, luring renters into parting with their cash for flats they never truly rented.
Victims Speak Out
“Russell seemed like a nice man, and I didn’t suspect a thing,” one victim revealed in court. “It was only when we went to the flat to sign the tenancy that we knew something was wrong. He wasn’t there and told us to let ourselves in with a door code. It felt strange, like a scam. I hated he gave me permission to enter a flat that wasn’t his. I felt like I’d done something wrong.”
Police Warn of Rising Rental Frauds
Detective Deborah Jones, leading the investigation, warned of the serious impact such crimes have on victims:
“Russell is an experienced fraudster who exploited people’s trust, pretending to be a professional landlord. He left victims out of pocket and sometimes homeless, robbing them of deposits and decent housing.”
Jones praised those who came forward and thanked Wiltshire Police for their efforts.
Spot a Scam? Report It Now
- Think you’ve been fooled? Report non-emergency fraud online via the Wiltshire-Police" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wiltshire Police website.
- In an emergency, always dial 999.
- You can also report fraud crimes to Action Fraud UK, the national fraud and cybercrime centre.
