Fraudster jailed for scamming London renters out of £77,000
Frederic Priestley, 34, has been sentenced to two years and 11 months for defrauding over 30 people with a fake rental property advertised on Facebook.
The Metropolitan Police said Frederic Priestley, 34, from Southwark, south-east London, defrauded more than 30 people out of over £77,000 in a rental scam between April and September last year.
Priestley falsely advertised a property for rent on Facebook, providing prospective tenants with tenancy agreements and collecting deposits and rent payments, despite never owning the property or it being available for rent.
After receiving payments, he would contact victims with various excuses for not proceeding, including claiming deaths in the family. Police investigations revealed payments ranging from £800 to £2,000, totalling £77,400, made under the guise of deposits and fees.
DC Abimbola Emiola from the Met's economic crime team stated: “Priestley exploited people who were simply looking for somewhere to live, using convincing paperwork and false reassurances to make his scheme appear legitimate. This was not an isolated incident, but a sustained fraud carried out over many months, affecting dozens of victims and causing significant financial and emotional distress.”
Priestley was arrested in October 2025 and pleaded guilty at Croydon magistrates court in April. On Friday, he was sentenced to two years and 11 months' imprisonment for fraud by false representation at Inner London Crown Court.
Police encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim to report it as soon as possible.
