Hi, I am UK based if that impacts the advice!
A woman posed as a landlady with a room to let, which I viewed and agreed to move into. We both signed a 'contract' (I have a picture of the document with both our signatures) with a move in date, etc, and I paid her the deposit direct to her bank account.
I didn't hear from her until less than a week before the move-in date, when she said she would have to cancel the agreement. She said she'd send the deposit back ASAP, and that was the last I heard from her.
I found out she does not live at that address, and has done this same process to a lot of other people - she was arrested and put on bail, which has just been extended due to more victims coming forward. The police woman dealing with the case said I should open a small claim against this woman, as the main case would probably not result in me getting my money returned. However the two email addresses I have for the woman are full, and they are the only way I have to reach her. The police woman has been no helping in trying to work out how else I can approach this, though the police do know the woman's real address and mobile phone number.
I can't afford a lawyer or a private investigator, can anyone give any advice on how to proceed? Many thanks
A woman posed as a landlady with a room to let, which I viewed and agreed to move into. We both signed a 'contract' (I have a picture of the document with both our signatures) with a move in date, etc, and I paid her the deposit direct to her bank account.
I didn't hear from her until less than a week before the move-in date, when she said she would have to cancel the agreement. She said she'd send the deposit back ASAP, and that was the last I heard from her.
I found out she does not live at that address, and has done this same process to a lot of other people - she was arrested and put on bail, which has just been extended due to more victims coming forward. The police woman dealing with the case said I should open a small claim against this woman, as the main case would probably not result in me getting my money returned. However the two email addresses I have for the woman are full, and they are the only way I have to reach her. The police woman has been no helping in trying to work out how else I can approach this, though the police do know the woman's real address and mobile phone number.
I can't afford a lawyer or a private investigator, can anyone give any advice on how to proceed? Many thanks
