35 Kitchener Residents Scammed Out of $40K in Latest Online Rental Fraud
Summary:
A rental scam in Kitchener, Ontario, has left at least 35 victims defrauded of a total of $40,000. The scam involved a fake online advertisement for a two-bedroom apartment, luring potential renters into paying deposits before discovering the unit was already occupied. The fraudsters exploited online platforms to target unsuspecting renters, with victims losing large sums in deposit transfers. Local police are investigating, but no arrests have been made.
Main Story:
Kitchener residents are reeling after falling victim to a widespread rental scam that has defrauded at least 35 people of $40,000. The scam began with a fake ad on Facebook Marketplace, offering a two-bedroom apartment in the Laurentian Hills area at a competitive rate of $1,900 per month. Prospective renters, excited by the listing, were asked to provide personal information and a deposit for the first and last month’s rent, only to later discover the apartment was not available for rent.
One of the victims, Suraj Thomas, had been looking for a new place when he stumbled upon the ad. After viewing the apartment and interacting with individuals posing as the current tenant and landlord, he transferred $4,100 for the deposit. On the day he was supposed to receive the keys, both the tenant and landlord became unreachable, leaving Thomas and others stranded without a place to live.
According to the building management, the rental was never authorized, and the scammers acted independently of the building’s legitimate operations. This incident is part of a broader trend in online rental scams, which have become more prevalent as fraudsters exploit digital platforms and unsuspecting renters.
Waterloo Regional Police are actively investigating the case, with no charges laid yet. Authorities advise prospective renters to verify listings, avoid transferring money without meeting the landlord in person, and to be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. As rental fraud continues to rise across Canada, renters are urged to exercise caution when looking for homes online.