Windsor police are once again reminding the public about property rental scams.
Police say they have recently received a number of complaints indicating that the scam is again active in Windsor. Investigators say in some cases the victims have forwarded funds to the offender. They say there have been four cases over the last two months where the victims paid between $1,000 and $1,800 as a security deposit or down payment to the fraudster.
Police say the offender advertises a property for rent, usually over the internet and sometimes the culprit will respond over the internet to someone searching to rent an apartment. Authorities say the offenders are posing as landlords but have no legitimate connection to the rental property. They say the offender often will inform a prospective customer that they are out of the country and are not available to meet in person. There is usually a time sensitive component as well, pressuring the customer to provide funds or personal banking information immediately.
Police urge tenants looking to rent a property to be vigilant, do some research and recognize the warning signs before sending money or personal information to someone you have not met. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim;
- Contact the landlord directly and arrange to see the apartment in person.
- Request to see a lease/contract and review it thoroughly.
- Conduct an online search to see if it was previously for sale or for rent. Scammers have been known to use previous ads, so this research helps to ensure it's not a duplicate post. If you find another post, contact the landlord or agent to confirm your information.
- Don't send money to strangers. Money transfers are very popular with online scams because they are difficult to trace and can instantly end up anywhere in the world.
- Contact Equifax and Transunion if you've provided personal information.
For more information on the rental scam visit the Canadian Fraud Centre.
If you have fallen victim to the scam, call Windsor Police at 519-255-6700 ext. 4330, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.catchcrooks.com.
