Facebook message left young family ‘homeless’

A new family excited to move house was left “homeless” after scammers took advantage of them via Facebook. Dylan Doherty, 21, and 18-year-old Kaitlin Clayton of Southport turned to Facebook marketplace earlier this year after exhausting their search via estate agents. The couple hoped to find a home after the birth of their son Archie, but a message from a seemingly well-meaning user saw them lose hundreds of pounds and a prospective home to a scam.Ms Clayton sent messages to adverts on Facebook that appeared to the couple and eventually received an offer of help from one man who saw her applications.After viewing a flat with a friend, the couple found a home and agreed to pay a £250 deposit and an additional £50 “pet fee”.They ultimately arranged to move in and paid a month’s rent upfront alongside money for the interior.The couple told the Liverpool Echo they were “getting so excited to move in” with newborn Archie, adding they “worked so hard to get this flat”.READ MORE: Has your Instagram account been cloned? Worrying rise in scams Family left ‘homeless’ after being scammed when they replied to Facebook message (Image: KAITLIN CLAYTON) The young family was scammed out of hundreds of pounds and a prospective flat (Image: KAITLIN CLAYTON)The new mother found she had fallen victim to a scam after the friend with whom she viewed the flat alerted her to a warning posted on social media.Other victims had shared a story that rang alarm bells, and the couple “found out it was supported living accommodation”.They were “devastated” by the news and ultimately left without a new home.The parents have had to move back in with their parents and are “pretty much homeless”, Ms Clayton added.DON’T MISSThousands sign our petition urging Rishi Sunak to protect triple-lock on pensions – PETITION’Extremely devious’ killer who showed ‘no remorse’ for beheading Christian jailed for life – INSIGHTFerrari slams ‘brainwashed’ Just Stop Oil spokesperson: ‘This is a cult not a cause’ – VIDEO Facebook presents a wealth of opportunities for scammers (Image: GETTY – STOCK)An investigation conducted by Manchester Evening News found that they come with telltale signs.Rental scammers often ask people to contact them via WhatsApp, with numbers included on marketplace listings.Scam listings are often exhibited elsewhere, such as on estate agency websites.The perpetrators often ask for an upfront payment as a “refundable deposit” before running with the money.