Police warning over fake document scam

Landlords are being reminded to double check tenants’ documents with their employers after a series of fake payslips were presented to a number of London landlords. 

Would-be scammers have handed over forged payslips and employment contracts purporting to be from Glossop-based firm Revolugen Ltd during pre-tenancy checks, with the company saying it is being contacted on a weekly basis by landlords. 

On checking, the company has found no record of any of the people named as ever having worked at the firm, with seven different names used by fraudsters. 

Mark Rodger, Cyber Crime Investigator and Accredited Financial Investigator at Derbyshire Police confirmed there is no suggestion the firm’s systems have been compromised, and that the fraudulent documents have been created using photoshop or similar software by what is believed to be an organised gang. 

He said: “The potential tenants are committing fraud by false representation whenever they present the documents to landlords. The Met Police has been informed and any landlords who receive faked documents should contact their local police force directly and report the fraud.” 

What should I do when it comes to checking tenant documents?  

The NRLA advises landlords do not accept documents provided by the tenant as proof of employment or income, instead – as these landlords did – you should contact the employer directly for confirmation.  

You have the option of carrying out tenant referencing checks yourself or employing a reputable  third party to carry them out on your behalf. 

The checks vary depending on the provider, but typically include: 

• Identification check (using a passport or driving licence) 

• Proof of income 

• Credit check 

• Confirmation of employment (a written employers' reference confirming the tenant's employment and salary) 

• References from former landlords 

Checking this information will help ensure that your potential tenants are reliable and financially secure, providing you with peace of mind when renting a home to them. 

The NRLA’s own full tenant referencing service is a reliable choice for landlords, with each application manually assessed by trained personnel to ensure the information provided is accurate and legitimate.  

We also have a comprehensive range of pre-tenancy resources for landlords that will help you ensure everything's in order before your tenants move in – including guidance and tenant referencing form templates if you want to carry out your own checks. 

For everything you need to know about tenant referencing check out our handy guide here.