‘Elderly couple’ trick Dubai woman into renting apartment they didn’t own

‘Elderly couple’ trick Dubai woman into renting apartment they didn’t own

Manager loses over Dh18,000 to fraudsters running fake Airbnb site

Published: Thu 17 Nov 2022, 6:00 AM

Dubai newcomer Mansi, 28, was excited. She had clinched a fantastic rental deal and couldn’t wait to move into her new apartment.

The Indian manager was house-hunting last month when she came across a property listing on Dubizzle that seemed to tick all the right boxes.

The tastefully furnished studio at Jumeirah Lake Towers was just a block away from her office. At Dh3,000 per month, including utilities, WiFi and kitchen essentials, it was a steal, thought Mansi as she looked at the photographs accompanying the listing.

The apartment had floor-to-ceiling windows offering scenic views. There was a balcony too with a pair of cute chairs and table.

It was exactly the kind of place Mansi wanted. The email exchanges with the ‘British property owner’, Cliodhna A. Murphy, had been reassuring.

“I am now established back home in the United Kingdom. We bought this apartment for our vacations in the Emirates, but we got a little too old for travelling, so you won't be bothered by us during your stay,” Murphy wrote on October 31.

Mansi was told she had to book the apartment through Airbnb by paying Dh6,000. Half of