RCMP warn of scam targeting renters

Aug 27, 2021 | 10:37 AM

The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is warning the public of an ongoing rental scam after a Lumby resident was cheated out of $1,000.

In this recent incident, the fraudster contacted the victim, who was in the process of searching for a rental, and told them they “owned ” a house in Armstrong they could rent to the victim.

The fraudster sent the victim photos of the property as well as personal identification documents, and the victim e-transferred the perpetrator a $1,000 deposit in order to secure the property.

The victim realized they had fallen for a scam a few days later when they went to the property and met the legitimate homeowner.

“With the limited number of properties available, these con artists are taking advantage of renters who are feeling pressured to act quickly to secure accommodation,” stated Constable Chris Terleski, Media Relations Officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.

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“Fraudsters can be very convincing, but as a renter, prior to any money changing hands, there are some precautionary steps you can take to protect yourself from falling victim to scams such as this.”

The RCMP offer a number of tips for people to use to avoid this, and other rental scams, in the future:

Arrange for an in-person inspection or have someone trustworthy visit the property in person.
Talk to others in the area to confirm the property owner.
Search online for any photos of the rental or the address and also check to see if it has been associated with scams in the past.
Ask to see previous utility bills for the address to confirm the person is indeed the homeowner or landlord.
Ensure a proper rental agreement is provided and signed by both parties.
Do not send money as a deposit until it’s been verified that the property is legitimately for rent.

The RCMP say while those who have not provided any personal information or lost money to a fraudster do not need to contact a detachment, these, or any other fraud attempts, should still be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre either online or by calling 1-888-495-8501.

Those who have fallen for this or any other scam can file a report with the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at 250-546-3028.

by Liam Verster

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