Imagine renting out your apartment, only to find out months later that it has been hijacked by a scam artist, rented out to strangers, and stripped of its furniture.
That’s exactly what happened to Rohhan Divanji, a 39-year-old product manager in London, who is now battling the financial and emotional fallout of a nightmare tenancy.
To make matters worse, despite clear evidence of fraud and theft, the police have decided not to take any action.
A Carefully Orchestrated Fraud
Divanji’s troubles began in October 2023 when a supposed tenant, posing as a high-earning data analyst, secured a lease on his two-bedroom Canary Wharf apartment through OpenRent.
The reference checks seemed to hold up, but in reality, the fraudster had used a stolen identity.
Within weeks of moving in, the imposter changed the locks, turned the flat into a short-term rental listed on Airbnb and Booking.com, and began hosting wild parties.
A Trail of Financial Devastation
The scam left Divanji with a staggering £20,000 in losses.
He spent £2,500 on legal fees to evict the fraudulent tenant, lost £15,000 in unpaid rent, and had to fork out an additional £5,000 for stolen and damaged furniture.
CCTV footage even captured two men walking out of the building with his belongings, loading them into a yellow van.
When Divanji reported the case to the Metropolitan Police in July 2024, he provided detailed evidence, including CCTV clips, fraudulent documents, and details of the scam.
However, in January 2025, he was informed that the case had been closed, with the police deeming it a “civil dispute” rather than a criminal offense.
Frustration with Law Enforcement
Divanji is exasperated. “I handed them everything on a plate,” he said.
“It would take them 30 minutes to connect the dots and track this person down.
Instead, I’ve spent more time chasing the police for justice than they would have spent investigating.”
His frustration deepened when he later discovered his stolen furniture appearing in the background of new Airbnb listings.
“The system is failing law-abiding citizens,” he lamented.
“We play by the rules, pay our taxes, and when we need help, the police won’t act.
If law enforcement doesn’t step in, what are we left with? Chaos.”
A Wider Problem in the Rental Market
As Divanji fights for justice, another victim has come forward— the real ‘Poonam Grover,’ whose identity was stolen to secure the fraudulent tenancy.
She recently discovered a £15,000 claim made in her name, suggesting that the scammers are still at large and defrauding more landlords.
With proposed rental law changes looming, Divanji fears things will only get worse for landlords.
“These laws make it easier for scammers to exploit the system,” he warned.
“It’s basically handing them free money.”
Police Priorities Under Scrutiny
This case comes amid growing concerns about police priorities in the UK.
While serious financial crimes like this go uninvestigated, other cases—such as officers visiting a woman over a social media post criticizing politicians—continue to spark outrage.
Despite repeated attempts to get answers from authorities, Divanji remains in limbo.
“I’ve done everything I can,” he said. “At this point, I’m losing faith in the system. If this isn’t worth police time, then what is?”
What’s Next?
For now, Divanji is left picking up the pieces, while the scammers remain free to target more victims.
With police resources stretched thin and the justice system seemingly turning a blind eye, cases like his raise serious questions about the protection of property owners in the UK.
Will authorities finally take action, or will more landlords fall victim to similar scams? Only time will tell.