A man from Swindon has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for defrauding multiple victims by falsely advertising rental properties online.
David Russell, 36, of Fleet Street, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on February 20 for five counts of fraud committed between April 2023 and March 2024. He had previously pleaded guilty to the charges.
The victims had found the properties advertised on Facebook, believing they were dealing with the legitimate owner or property manager. However, Russell had been fraudulently listing properties that were mainly available on Airbnb.
Victim’s Statement
In a statement read in court, one of Russell’s victims recalled how the scam unfolded:
“Russell seemed like a nice man, and I didn’t suspect a thing. It was only when we returned to the flat to sign the tenancy agreement that we realised something wasn’t right. He wasn’t at the flat, and he told us to let ourselves in using the door code. I thought this was strange and… I started to think this was a scam. I hated that he gave me permission to let myself into a flat that wasn’t his; he had no right to do this. I felt like I had done something wrong.”
Police Statement
Local Crime Investigator Deborah Jones highlighted the impact of Russell’s crimes, stating:
“Russell is an accomplished fraudster and was able to manipulate multiple victims into giving him their hard-earned money in good faith. This was on the understanding that they were dealing with a professional landlord and that they would have somewhere to live. This has put a huge strain on the victims, who were left without a deposit for another home and, at times, homeless.”
She also praised the victims for coming forward and trusting Wiltshire Police to investigate the case.
Reporting Fraud
Authorities urge anyone who believes they have been a victim of fraud to report it immediately.
- For non-emergency fraud reports, visit the Wiltshire Police website.
- In an emergency, always call 999.
- You can also report fraud to Action Fraud UK, the national reporting center for fraud and cybercrime.
