There have been a number of rental scams reported recently to North Bay police.
Throughout June and July, the North Bay Police Service has received several reports of rental frauds which are currently under investigation.
There are three main types of rental fraud including:
Phantom Rental – When a fake ad is created to lure tenants and obtain money prior to viewing or occupying a property that does not exist
Hijacked Ad – When someone copies a legitimate ad and begins to collect money prior to tenants viewing the property;
Already Rented – When a property is rented to multiple people and money, typically the first and last month’s rent, is collected upfront before the property is viewed by the tenant.
"Scammers are adaptable and talented at changing their methods in order to defraud victims," says a release.
The “landlord” will not show you the property in person until the money is paid. The “landlord” may also claim that they reside out of town and are unable to show you the property in person.
Also be aware of:
- Vague address or no address information;
- Blurry photos or duplicated photos with a blurry watermark;
- Duplicate listings for the same property with a different price;
- Landlord requests payment by an obscure method like a ‘wire’ transfer or cryptocurrency).
Remember to follow these tips to help protect yourself against rental fraud:
- Never send money before seeing the rental property and signing a lease agreement.
- Never rent sight unseen. Even if you reside out of town, making the trip to view the property is likely cheaper than being defrauded of first and last month’s rent.
- Be wary of landlords who request little information from you.
- Never deal in cash.
- Insist on a lease agreement. Ask the landlord to show picture identification as proof they are the person named in the document. While it is not a requirement that they produce identification, the renter should be suspicious if they refuse.
- Be wary of rental rates that are below market value or seem too good to be true. Remember: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Always meet the landlord in person and obtain a receipt for any money paid.
- Deal with a reputable property management company.
- Do your basic research through open-source queries (e.g., Google).
Students can use resources offered by their educational institution to assist in finding housing.
Do not feel ashamed if you have been victimized by a scammer. Scammers are very talented at using new technology and methods to defraud victims. If you have been victimized by a scammer, report the incident to police.
The North Bay Police Service encourages anyone who has been defrauded as a result of a rental schemes to contact police at 705-497-5555.
