A young family were left 'homeless' after being scammed when they replied to a Facebook message. Kaitlin Clayton, 18, and Dylan Doherty, 21, from Southport, were looking for a home to live together following the birth of their son Archie five months ago.
The couple had search on estate agents and property lettings websites before turning to Facebook marketplace. Kaitlin sent several messages to adverts that interested her, before she received a Facebook message from a man who said he'd seen her applications and that may be able to help.
She went to view a flat with a friend, and agreed to pay a £250 deposit as well as a £50 'pet fee', receiving a receipt for both, the Liverpool Echo reported. Kaitlin told the paper: "We were getting so excited to move in. We've got a new born and we've worked and worked so hard to get this flat.
"We were really looking forward to move, so we could start our new family." The couple spent hundreds of pounds to kit out their new home, but found it more and more difficult to contact their prospective landlord.
Then on the day they were due to receive the keys, the man told them there was a "problem with the flat" and they wouldn't be able to move in yet. She had already paid £550 for the first month's rent.
"I had just been messaging and messaging him as I'd heard nothing and he just wasn't answering then I got that message," she said.
Kaitlin said she only realised she had been scammed when the friend who had accompanied her to view the flat showed her social media posts warning about the man, with an eerily similar story being told by the other victims. Kaitlin, who works in a bar, said: "After all that we found out it was supported living accommodation.
"I'm devastated really. We've got a new born and we've worked and worked so hard for the money for that flat. We've now had to move back home to our parents' houses after he left us pretty much homeless.
"We've really not got much at all right now. I worked hard for that money and someone like that just takes it from you, someone who just doesn't care about anyone."
A fundraiser to help Kaitlin and Dylan make up some of the costs they lost in the scam has been set up. Anyone who wants to donate, or just learn more about their story, can find their GoFundMe here.
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