Ahead of Fraud Awareness Week (16-22 November), we spoke to Kaidong – a resident who turned to the Council’s Trading Standards team after being defrauded out of £12,600 by someone posing as a landlord.  

When Kaidong signed a tenancy agreement, he never imagined it would lead to one of the most distressing experiences of his life. Months later, while browsing social media for renting tips, he saw posts describing scams eerily similar to his own situation – the same payment process, the same landlord’s name.

Alarmed, he visited the flat he believed he had rented. An unfamiliar couple answered the door, they insisted they had never let the property and warned him not to return. In that moment, Kaidong realised the truth: he had been scammed. 

The emotional toll

The shock was overwhelming. “I spent the whole day struggling to accept what had happened,” Kaidong recalls. Fear, guilt and helplessness consumed him. Physical symptoms soon followed – heart palpitations, choking sensations, insomnia. 

The scam didn’t just affect Kaidong’s finances it disrupted his studies and daily life. Filing police reports, contacting the bank, seeking legal advice – all while writing his thesis – was exhausting.  

“I was in a constant state of tension,” he says. 

Finding support

Initially, Kaidong declined counselling, feeling detached when speaking about his emotions in English. But as symptoms worsened, he got help from a Chinese counsellor. “She guided me to confront and release my emotions,” Kaidong explains. Gradually, he forgave himself. 

“Counselling played a crucial role in helping me recover.” 

Trading Standards: more than a service

When Kaidong contacted the Council’s Trading Standards team, he met Emma, an officer who listened patiently and shared her own experience of being scammed. “That moment was an enormous relief,” Kaidong says. Emma helped him gather evidence and submit documents, while offering emotional reassurance. 

Later, Alonso, another officer, phoned Kaidong personally to share the news. “He could have sent an email, but he chose to call. That small gesture made me feel cared for.” 

Closure and hope

Two years after the fraud, Kaidong received the call he never expected. His money had been recovered and just after he had passed his PhD viva! “It felt like fate had offered me closure,” he says. For Kaidong, the refund symbolised more than financial relief, it marked the end of a painful chapter. 

Kaidong’s message to others

Kaidong later learned that many victims give up, believing recovery is impossible. His advice? 

• Seek help – even if the chances seem slim. Trading Standards can guide you and offer emotional support

• Address the trauma – PTSD after fraud is real. Don’t suppress your feelings – talk, cry, seek counselling. It wasn’t your fault, and you don’t have to face it alone

Take action this Fraud Awareness Week

If you suspect you’ve been scammed: 

 ✅ Report it immediately to Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040. 

 ✅ If you fear you’ve been defrauded in Islington, contact Trading Standards: Trading.Standards@islington.gov.uk 

 ✅ If you’re struggling emotionally, seek help. Counselling and community support can make a huge difference. 

 ✅ Learn more about common scams at Friends Against Scams. 

Remember: it’s not your fault, and help is available. Together, we can fight fraud and support those affected.