With University of Windsor and St.Clair College students looking for accommodations, the Windsor Police Service has a few suggestions to guard against being ripped-off.
Police report there have been four people victimized by the so-called rental scam over the past two months.
In each case, the victims have lost security deposits of $1000 and $1800.
Police say there are a few key elements that will tip you off that it's a scam not a legitimate landlord.
Most cases involve a property listed online with the response also on the Internet and would-be landlord claims to be out of the country or can't meet in person.
There is also often a time-sensitive element pressuring the intended victim to provide banking or other financial information.
Windsor police offer several tips on avoiding this scam:
- 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.