Overview

• NHS nurse Ben Echianu paid a £2,000 deposit via Gumtree for a three-bedroom Manchester home before finding on June 29 that it was occupied by Airbnb guests.
• Greater Manchester Police’s Action Fraud team is now investigating the incident as alleged online rental fraud.
• City Superhost changed the property locks and is assisting officers after confirming the scammer had booked the home and posed as its landlord.
• Airbnb removed the implicated user from its platform and Gumtree’s trust and safety team is reviewing suspicious listings reported by renters.
• Echianu expects to recover £1,000 via his bank but acknowledges the cash portion remains lost, highlighting tenants’ vulnerability in a tight rental market.