(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Beware

COVID-19 puts new twist on rental property scam

Apr 29, 2020 | 1:47 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning people about an existing scam that has a newly added twist.

Fraudsters will search for information about legitimate home rental or sale properties on specialty websites and copy and paste them onto different platforms such as Craigslist, Kijiji, or Facebook Marketplace, pretending to be the owners.

In an effort to attract more interest, the rental price is typically below market norms.

The difference now is that the scammers will advise the prospective tenant that, due to COVID-19 restrictions, they are unable to meet in person for a viewing. They will encourage the victim to visit the property themselves and look at the building from the outside.

“If they wish to proceed with the rental, the scammer tells them to make a payment online for the first month’s rent of a security deposit. The scammer also promises to make arrangements to sign the lease agreement once COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed,” reads a note from the BBB.

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Victims are urged to make the payment as soon as possible to secure the rental ahead of others.

The BBB claims that several victims were asked to make an initial deposit by wiring money through Moneygram or Western Union, or by money order, cashier’s cheque, or a cash app.

“While we have not received any COVID-19 rental scam reports for our province, we anticipate this could be a new scam trend and are urging consumers to be on the lookout,” says BBB Serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenay Communications Specialist Shawna-Kay Thomas.

In 2019, she reports that more than five million people across North America lost over $500 to rental scams, “and with COVID-19 adding further opportunities for scammers, this could lead to a spiral in reports across Canada.”

The BBB is offering the following tips to the public:

• Do not send money to anyone that you have not met in person
• Inspect the property yourself, inside and out, before signing any agreements or making payments
• Do not be satisfied with just viewing a virtual tour
• Be wary if the alleged owner or property manager wants money through Western Union, Moneygram, or a gift card
• Search the person or property in question
• Does the property exist at that address?
• Does the same photo appear at different locations?
• Are there multiple listings for the same property on the same site?
• Avoid “unrealistic” promotions, offers, or rentals advertised as being below-market rates