Renting a house with nobody showing you around in person

[robbocop33]

Just want to run this by people" as ¾i haven't done things this way before.Owner of the property i want to rent isn't nearby to show me around,keys are going to be posted to me?Anyway,here's the email i got regarding the procedure,does it sound ok?Thanks.
"OK, No problem and Thank you for your understanding. Yes, The property is available for a long term let. 


I need some additional information to draft the tenancy agreement and also to know where and whom you want the property keys and the necessary documents to be delivered to :


Full Name :

Age :

Mobile Number (For Delivery) :

Move In Date :


P.S ::: You will make a refundable advance Security Deposit fee of £500 into my solicitor's account before the property keys and other necessary documents (Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement and Residential Tenancy Application) will be mailed and delivered to you via Royal Mail Special Delivery and Also to ensure the safety return of the property keys and documents. It is refundable if you don't like the property after you have viewed and mailed back the property keys. The Deposit will be secured with the DPS and a deposit receipt with ID number will be issued to you to track your deposit status.

[Spare tyre]

Nope, sounds dodgy

[robbocop33]

Spare tyre said:

Nope, sounds dodgy

I kind of thought so too.I thought i'd ask him for the details of the solicitor to pay the 500,i got exactly what i expected,just the sortcode and account number,and dodgy sounding account holder name.
I then called his bluff and said can i have the full name,address and phone number of the solicitor before i paid,this was his reply!
"My solicitor is a freelancer who is in charge of my legal dealings. I would have love to provide you a contact details but it is against the procedure to have direct access to my solicitor until you are my rightful tenant. You are in safe hands and you absolutely have nothing to worry about.

[DKL]

I've had keys posted to me in the past. We had seen the property in person though but we lived in Berkshire and the flat was in Glasgow.

eta - just seen the last post, that's a scam in anyone's book..

[robbocop33]

The property does exist,i popped up to see it out of curiousity.I got the house number,Googled it and i have the shocking news for this guy that my local estate agency currently has his house for rent,up for sale!! :-)

[elanfan]

Well done on not being scammed. Take the opportunity to wind them up a bit. Ask lots of stupid questions that you need to know before sending the money. Report the scammer to their bank by calling their banks fraud department hopefully they’ll close the account and freeze any other deposits people have paid.

[paddy1970]

Report to the police.

[scot_aln]

Yep report it here - https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

And hopefully you'll save someone not so wise from being fooled