Rental scam on Leboncoin and Airbnb: she extorts more than 100,000 euros by showing her apartment

In Paris, several people were scammed by an inventive scammer who rented her apartment on Airbnb in order to organize visits and extract money from potential interested parties.

We know that it is difficult to find accommodation in Paris. In fact, some scammers do not hesitate to try to scam certain buyers. In the last episode of the show Sept à Huit, this Sunday August 18 on  TF1, a well-crafted scam claimed about twenty victims.

In this report, a couple recounts being robbed by a fake ad posted on Leboncoin. The apartment was a two-room apartment of 40 m2 located in the 9th arrondissement of the capital, for a rent of 1,550 euros per month. “Super bright, top floor with balcony, south facing, not too expensive” , recalls the young woman who quickly contacted the owner.

100,000 euros in damages

A visit followed, and the next day, the owner informed the couple that they had been selected and asked the couple to pay the deposit and the first months rent. The two future tenants therefore rush to pay the 4,350 euros, but on the day of the handover of the keys, the famous owner is unreachable.

By searching on the Internet, the two victims understand that the owner is a scammer. At the beginning of 2023, an investigation byFranceinfo, had already revealed the scheme of this scammer. In all, she is said to have managed to pocket more than 100,000 euros, from a total of around twenty victims. She will finally be arrested in Grenoble and tried next September.