A young family was left 'homeless' after being scammed by a man who approached them on Facebook. Kaitlin Clayton, 18, and Dylan Doherty, 21, from Southport have been working towards moving in together since Archie was born five months ago.
Kaitlin had been messaging and commenting on adverts for flats on Facebook market place before getting a Facebook message from a man who said he'd seen her applications and that he might have something for her. Kaitlin responded and was soon viewing the flat accompanied by her friend.
On the day, she paid a £250 deposit, and a £50 'pet fee' for which she received a hand-written receipt, as well as an electronic one via email, reports The Echo. She said: "We were getting so excited to move in. We've got a newborn and we've worked and worked so hard to get this flat.
"We were really looking forward to move, so we could start our new family."
As they neared the agreed moving in date - after spending hundreds more on essentials to fit out their new place - the man became harder and harder to contact. On the day they were due to get the keys he sent Kaitlin a message saying that due to a "problem with the flat" they wouldn't be able to move in yet.
She had paid £550 for the first month's rent on top of the initial deposit. Kaitlin said: "I had just been messaging and messaging him as I'd heard nothing and he just wasn't answering Then I got that message."
Kaitlin realised she had been scammed when the friend who had accompanied her to view the flat showed her social media posts warning about the man, with a similar story being told by the other victims.
Kaitlin, who works in a bar, said: "After all that we found out it was supported living accommodation. I'm devastated really. We've got a newborn and we've worked and worked so hard for the money for that flat.
"We've now had to move back home to our parents' houses after he left us pretty much homeless.
"We've really not got much at all right now. I worked hard for that money and someone like that just takes it from you, someone who just doesn't care about anyone."
A fundraiser to help Kaitlin and Dylan make up some of the costs they lost in the scam has been set up. Anyone who wants to donate, or just learn more about their story, can find their GoFundMe here.
The ECHO approached Merseyside Police.
