Elk Valley RCMP is urging you to be wary of fraudsters after someone lost money to a rental scam in the Fernie area.
Police officials say the complainants planned to move to the area and found an apartment through social media.
They contacted the property manager, who sent photos and a rental agreement.
The complainants were unable to see the apartment in person, as they were not in the area yet, so they sent the deposit as per the rental agreement.
RCMP officials say the property manager stopped contacting the prospective new residents and deleted the apartment listing.
The complainants contacted their bank to report the scam and were asked to contact the police.
“These situations are fairly common, unfortunately, as we have a number of international persons moving to our area for work,” said Elk Valley RCMP.
“These events are sometimes difficult for police to investigate, as the suspects and accounts used can be based internationally.”
Police officials say there are a few things you can look out for to spot potential property scams:
- Look for suspicious photos, a lack of address information or inconsistent pricing for the area.
- When you apply for a rental property, be wary of the screening process. If the property manager asks for too much information or refuses to arrange a viewing, it could be a red flag.
- An opening request for a deposit, ongoing and pushy demands for money in advance, no standard lease agreements and unusual deposit methods could be indicators of potential fraud.
“Your best method to avoid scams is to contact a local rental property manager or real estate company who can likely help point you in a safe direction or person to help you,” said RCMP officials.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing and you can call the Elk Valley RCMP at 250-425-6233 for advice or support regarding similar scams.
Details on rental fraud and other types of scams can be found on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website.
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