A WOMAN who was conned out of hundreds of pounds in an online accommodation scam has had her money refunded following an investigation by the Evening Times.

Fraudsters advertised a Glasgow flat for rent on the Gumtree website and the young Strathclyde University graduate began emailing a man she thought was the landlord.

He persuaded her to transfer £765 to her close friend then send him the receipt to prove she had funds for the deposit and rent.

She went to a branch of Western Union and moved the money to the friend, who planned to collect it and give it back to her the following day.

However, the cash was picked up in a branch 400 miles away in London and the woman didn't hear from the conman again and has no idea what happened to the cash.

The swindle sparked an investigation by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) which has yet to be concluded.

The young Greek woman, who has asked not to be named, complained to Western Union, but the company didn't offer a refund.

The money transfer agency launched its own probe after the Evening Times got in touch and the firm has now agreed to offer a full refund "as a gesture of goodwill".

A spokeswoman said: "We are sorry to hear our customer was a victim of fraud while using Western Union services."

The victim of the scam said: "I'm very happy and surprised. I still haven't heard from Western Union so I look forward to getting the money.

"I would urge others to be on their guard or else this will keep happening."

peter.swindon@ eveningtimes.co.uk