A Burnaby resident is warning others to be wary after uncovering a possible rental scam.
The resident told Burnaby Now that he recently bought an apartment in the UniverCity development after renting in the same building.
After the deal went through, he discovered the same unit being listed for rent on Craigslist for $2,200 a month.
The man has since posted on Craigslist to let people know the two-bedroom unit is not for rent. Since then, he has updated the listing to say that it’s possible the seller didn’t tell the rental agent about the sale.
So it could be a scam or it could just be an error. Either way, here are some tips about residential rental scams.
“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 plate if they arrive by car
- search for owner information in the Land Titles office to confirm you are dealing with the owner
