Met Police large-scale fraud investigation leads to man being sentenced

A man has been sentenced following a Met Police investigation into a series of rental fraud offences, where almost £80,000 was falsely claimed from dozens of victims.

Frederic James Priestley, 34 (01.05.1992), of Leathermarket Court, Southwark, was sentenced for two years and 11 months in prison for fraud by false representation, contrary to section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.

He was handed the sentence at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, 12 June, after pleading guilty at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 15 April.

Priestley was found to have defrauded more than 30 victims when he advertised a flat to rent online in Southwark, but never followed through with the rental agreements.

The court heard that between April and September 2025, Priestley advertised the flat to rent on a Facebook housing group, falsely claiming it was available. He emailed prospective tenants online, provided tenancy agreements to sign, and requested deposits and rent payments to be transferred to accounts he controlled.

He would then contact the prospective tenants with a variety of excuses as to why he was unable to fulfil the agreements, including that there had been deaths in the family. In reality, he didn’t own the property and it was never available for rent.

A total of 34 separate reports were submitted to Action Fraud throughout last year, each relating to the same rental property. As a result, the reports were linked and the case was formally referred to the Met Police in September 2025, where it was assigned to specialist officers within the Economic Crime Team.

As part of the investigation, officers conducted comprehensive financial enquiries into Priestley’s activities, uncovering a systematic and sustained pattern of fraudulent offending.

Significant payments were identified being made into his bank accounts between March and September 2025 from victims, with total receipts exceeding £77,000. Victims were targeted via social media and induced to transfer funds - typically ranging between £800 and £2,000 - under the guise of deposits and associated fees.

Priestley was arrested on Thursday, 9 October in relation to the allegations. Mobile phone analysis gathered by officers supported the investigation, alongside victim statements.

He was charged with fraud by false representation on Tuesday, 31 March.

Detective Constable Abimbola Emiola, from the Met’s Economic Crime Team, said:

“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.

“This sentence demonstrates that we will pursue those who abuse online platforms to commit fraud.

“We encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim to report it as soon as possible.”

Anyone can find themselves the victim of fraud. If you suspect you may have been scammed or involved in fraudulent activity, or have information about a possible fraudster, go here to find out who to contact.

To protect yourself from rental fraud:

• Always view the property in person before you sign any contracts or make payment.

• Use the information provided in the property listing, such as the address and photographs, to look online for what other information you can find about the property you would like to rent. Fraudsters often steal information from legitimate listings to create fake listings of their own.

• If you need to secure accommodation in the UK from overseas, seek advice from the employer or university you’re coming to.

• If you’re unsure about anything a prospective landlord is asking you to do, speak to a trusted friend or family member or seek professional, independent advice.
• Where possible, avoid bank transfer payments and use credit or debit cards for better protection against fraud.

If you’ve been a victim of rental fraud, make a report to Report Fraud, the national reporting service for fraud and cybercrime via www.reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. If you’ve made a payment, inform your bank as soon as possible who can help prevent any further losses. Monitor your bank statements regularly for any unusual activity.