A Burnaby resident is warning people that the place they see for rent online might not actually be real.
The resident told the NOW that he recently bought an apartment in the Brentwood area.
After the deal went through, he discovered the same unit being listed for rent on several rental websites for $1,900 a month.
The man has since posted on these sites to let people know the one-bedroom unit is not for rent.
Police agencies have said that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to people getting scammed because they do deals remotely to avoid face-to-face meetings. That, along with a shortage of available rentals, has led people to agree to rent a place and send a deposit before seeing it in person.
“People are desperate,” said the resident issuing the warning.
“You believe the owner or landlord is showing you the property you are interested in renting,” says the Vancouver Police Department. “Or maybe you live elsewhere and are unable to view the property in person before agreeing to rent it. You pay a deposit, but when you show up to move in, the property was never available for rent and you are out your deposit. If the price is too good to be true, or they ask for cash only, a cash security deposit, or money to be wired, that should be a red flag.”
Tips
- don’t send money to anyone you have not met in person and/or for property you have not seen in person
- ask for identification from anyone showing you the property and write down their licence…
