Vancouver Renters Fall For Fake Landlord Scam

[Anonymous]

A former tenant of my Daddy pulled this same scam during the boom in Edmonton in 2005/2006. According to the police, it's been around a long, long time. Ask for proof of identity/ownership people.

Police are warning renters to be careful when looking for apartments after a woman lost $6,000 in a fake landlord scam in Vancouver.



Sandy Irving found an 1,800-square-foot apartment in Coal Harbour on the online classifieds site, Kijiji.



"Well, I thought, I've hit a good one here, because this is better than lots I've seen," Irving said.



She viewed the suite four times, but each time, the man claiming to be the landlord said he was too busy to go with her.



The pair met at a coffee shop to sign the rental agreement, and Irving made copies before giving him $6,000 in cash for the first month's rent and deposit.



But the condo was not actually for rent. It was for sale by an owner who lives in Korea. Pictures from the legitimate real estate listing were used for the fraudulent rental ad.



The listing agent says the fake owner tricked the building concierge into letting Irving into the suite by saying he was taking the suite off the market and renting it out instead. He arranged for the concierge to give a key to Irving.



Police say renters should get a passport copy, drivers licence or other ID from potential landlords before handing over any money.



"If at all you feel uncomfortable in a transaction when you're trying to rent a place, we suggest that you back out and you look at another place to rent," he said.



Police are examining surveillance video from the photocopy shop to try and locate the scam artist.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/woman-loses-6-000-in-vancouver-rental-scam-1.1367243">http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.1367243">http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/woman-loses-6-000-in-vancouver-rental-scam-1.1367243

[Anonymous]

A former tenant of my Daddy pulled this same scam during the boom in Edmonton in 2005/2006. According to the police, it's been around a long, long time. Ask for proof of identity/ownership people.

Police are warning renters to be careful when looking for apartments after a woman lost $6,000 in a fake landlord scam in Vancouver.



Sandy Irving found an 1,800-square-foot apartment in Coal Harbour on the online classifieds site, Kijiji.



"Well, I thought, I've hit a good one here, because this is better than lots I've seen," Irving said.



She viewed the suite four times, but each time, the man claiming to be the landlord said he was too busy to go with her.



The pair met at a coffee shop to sign the rental agreement, and Irving made copies before giving him $6,000 in cash for the first month's rent and deposit.



But the condo was not actually for rent. It was for sale by an owner who lives in Korea. Pictures from the legitimate real estate listing were used for the fraudulent rental ad.



The listing agent says the fake owner tricked the building concierge into letting Irving into the suite by saying he was taking the suite off the market and renting it out instead. He arranged for the concierge to give a key to Irving.



Police say renters should get a passport copy, drivers licence or other ID from potential landlords before handing over any money.



"If at all you feel uncomfortable in a transaction when you're trying to rent a place, we suggest that you back out and you look at another place to rent," he said.



Police are examining surveillance video from the photocopy shop to try and locate the scam artist.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/woman-loses-6-000-in-vancouver-rental-scam-1.1367243">http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.1367243">http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/woman-loses-6-000-in-vancouver-rental-scam-1.1367243

Oh that is terrible.



I feel so bad for the poor people who have been cheated.

 :(

[Anonymous]

^^Renters renting for the sole purpose of re-renting it several times. Easy to do and always takers, especially in a hawt rental market.

[Big Wave Dave]

A former tenant of my Daddy pulled this same scam during the boom in Edmonton in 2005/2006. According to the police, it's been around a long, long time. Ask for proof of identity/ownership people.

Police are warning renters to be careful when looking for apartments after a woman lost $6,000 in a fake landlord scam in Vancouver.



Sandy Irving found an 1,800-square-foot apartment in Coal Harbour on the online classifieds site, Kijiji.



"Well, I thought, I've hit a good one here, because this is better than lots I've seen," Irving said.



She viewed the suite four times, but each time, the man claiming to be the landlord said he was too busy to go with her.



The pair met at a coffee shop to sign the rental agreement, and Irving made copies before giving him $6,000 in cash for the first month's rent and deposit.



But the condo was not actually for rent. It was for sale by an owner who lives in Korea. Pictures from the legitimate real estate listing were used for the fraudulent rental ad.



The listing agent says the fake owner tricked the building concierge into letting Irving into the suite by saying he was taking the suite off the market and renting it out instead. He arranged for the concierge to give a key to Irving.



Police say renters should get a passport copy, drivers licence or other ID from potential landlords before handing over any money.



"If at all you feel uncomfortable in a transaction when you're trying to rent a place, we suggest that you back out and you look at another place to rent," he said.



Police are examining surveillance video from the photocopy shop to try and locate the scam artist.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/woman-loses-6-000-in-vancouver-rental-scam-1.1367243">http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.1367243">http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/woman-loses-6-000-in-vancouver-rental-scam-1.1367243

Kijiji is where all the cons go looking for victims to fleece. A buddy of mine in Kelowna got ripped off buying scalper concert seats.

[Gary Oak]

A former tenant of my Daddy pulled this same scam during the boom in Edmonton in 2005/2006. According to the police, it's been around a long, long time. Ask for proof of identity/ownership people.

Police are warning renters to be careful when looking for apartments after a woman lost $6,000 in a fake landlord scam in Vancouver.



Sandy Irving found an 1,800-square-foot apartment in Coal Harbour on the online classifieds site, Kijiji.



"Well, I thought, I've hit a good one here, because this is better than lots I've seen," Irving said.



She viewed the suite four times, but each time, the man claiming to be the landlord said he was too busy to go with her.



The pair met at a coffee shop to sign the rental agreement, and Irving made copies before giving him $6,000 in cash for the first month's rent and deposit.



But the condo was not actually for rent. It was for sale by an owner who lives in Korea. Pictures from the legitimate real estate listing were used for the fraudulent rental ad.



The listing agent says the fake owner tricked the building concierge into letting Irving into the suite by saying he was taking the suite off the market and renting it out instead. He arranged for the concierge to give a key to Irving.



Police say renters should get a passport copy, drivers licence or other ID from potential landlords before handing over any money.



"If at all you feel uncomfortable in a transaction when you're trying to rent a place, we suggest that you back out and you look at another place to rent," he said.



Police are examining surveillance video from the photocopy shop to try and locate the scam artist.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/woman-loses-6-000-in-vancouver-rental-scam-1.1367243">http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.1367243">http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/woman-loses-6-000-in-vancouver-rental-scam-1.1367243

The owner is in Korea? Figures typical backstabbing, sneaky, spiteful, Korean and Chinese Canadiscammers ripping off Canadians.

[cc]

Let's see. Scammer renter lives in Korea or China. Meets with potential renters daily in Vancouver coffee shop.



Neat trick. How does that work?



Gives new meaning to the term " frequent flyer".

[Anonymous]

Let's see. Scammer renter lives in Korea or China. Meets with potential renters daily in Vancouver coffee shop.



Neat trick. How does that work?



Gives new meaning to the term " frequent flyer".

As I understand how the swindle works, it doesn't matter where the renter or the scammer live. Any renter can sublet their unit several times to trusting renters.

[cc]

I was going by the literal OP - I suppose an "agent" could do the sales  job for the actual renter no matter where  the actual renter lived

[Anonymous]

I was going by the literal OP - I suppose an "agent" could do the sales  job for the actual renter no matter where  the actual renter lived

We had a tenant pull this stunt in one of my daddy's units. The cop told my daddy this scam has been around a long time and becomes more common during boom cycles.