Rental scam warning: Ont. woman loses thousands of dollars

Some Ottawa residents are out thousands of dollars after falling victim to a rental scam. CTV's Katelyn Wilson reports.
Subscribe to CTV News to watch more videos: / ctvnews
Connect with CTV News:
For live updates and latest headlines visit: www.ctvnews.ca/
For breaking news, fast, download the CTV News App: www.ctvnews.ca/app
Must-watch stories and full programs at www.ctvnews.ca/video
CTV News on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/discover/CTV-News
CTV News on X (formerly Twitter): / ctvnews
CTV News on Reddit: / ctvnews
CTV News on LinkedIn: / ctv-news
---
CTV News is Canada's most-watched news organization both locally and nationally, and has a network of national, international, and local news operations.

[@billwhitis9997]

The reason they are so brazen, is because the RCMP doesn't do anything about it.

[@666katch]

When they bring in digital, it will be so much worst and will be way more scams!

[@Dot-he2ke]

Don't think they can because of the given laws they follow.

[@martymethuselah]

@@Dot-he2ke they are a constabulary guild... they do not interfere in other guilds business

[@Dot-he2ke]

@@martymethuselah learned that the hard way.

[@jeffreyramires5642]

If the government was being defrauded, the RCMP would be all over it.

[@DMG64]

It's unbelievable that a bank can't track a payment. It's all digital at some point. 😒

[@jvssocialmedia2459]

Not believable. No credible reason why banks can't track transactions.

[@heather5926]

Right? Ridiculous

[@SnowTiger45]

The Police won't (or can't) do anything about it. It has to be a significant loss before they'll even bother with the paperwork. I was ripped off last year when a business owner's email was hacked. I thought I was sending the business owner money but was communicating with a Fraudster that hacked his email account. I sent the money via Email Money Transfer and that was the end of it. That money is gone and the Police won't do anything even though the Fraudster is in Canada !

[@susanstewart1402]

They sure traced any donations to the truckers quick enough.

[@geometricdesigns3620]

@@susanstewart1402 Yes! shows they can and just dont care

[@thegreatnormad3424]

When you report to the police, they will say it’s a civil matter. Scamming is not a civil matter, it’s a crime in progress.

[@Ratboy2004]

Police don't want to be involved.

[@isabellalive2.081]

Correct !! I thought I would be schooling everyone else ! It Looks like everyone else or at least enough understand , They call Outright Theft Civil Which it is not , & THE landlord Tennent Board says so as well !

[@agfagaevart]

steal some food from the supermarket get arrested tell the police "it's a civil matter - coz i'm HUNGRY!"

[@Lorrdd]

@@isabellalive2.081 no, they don't, you're just dumb.

[@bangbangyoureaboolean1324]

Police are useless. They don't do anything in nearly all situations.

[@briandunn3822]

Police will do nothing of course.

[@sergiolandz6056]

they are too busy being road pirates

[@jimmyzhao2673]

@@sergiolandz6056 Or delivering coffee & donuts at the Hummus hate parades.

[@user-yf9in9hb3o]

Is it because the police can't bother to stop these con men or don't know how

[@mikehunt-fx7sf]

Bribe them with donuts.

[@Hoovie9596]

The police. They couldn’t catch a cold.

[@Observer168]

I blame the banks! Why can’t these e-transfer payments be traced?

[@sirrdapo1882]

They don’t care enough

[@sergiolandz6056]

banks are behind 99% of our problems.

[@BellaBella-jw9ef]

None of the bank’s business IMO.

[@jvssocialmedia2459]

Absolutely their business. Profit is made from facilitating criminal tranactions.

[@chion918]

sure they can be traced - in fact it is an extremely important feature! but you are no body and they are under no obligation to talk to you. and stop blaming the bank for all your money problems because you didn't read the fine print when you sign up for the service.

[@dianesmith7472]

Banks need to be held accountable- they want everything to be electronic and yet they take no responsibility for these scammers - banks never lose money

[@hbc511]

Bank r a scammer in disguise. T...d

[@POLSKAdoBOJU]

How about the listing agent that let the scammer into the house alone

[@chuggynation8275]

Banks lose money all the time but no matter because it's the tax payer who is given the bill at the end of the day. If anything the banks are bigger scammers than anyone else.

[@peterpeter5666]

Never trust anything on Facebook

[@damac5136]

Literally, anything.

[@skatedurr]

facts

[@Rob-oe7qg]

I would never trust a facebook listing for cars, homes or rentals.

[@BellaBella-jw9ef]

Or referrals.

[@TylerGC]

We don't hqve a choice it's th3 best option at this point im using it daily hoping I can find something the place I have now is overpriced

[@vovin8132]

FB Marketplace is now the primary classifieds. What else is there? Kijiji? Craigslist? Newspaper ads?

[@orengo9728]

That goes for Craigslist and Kijiji too.

[@user-ld6wo4rv8h]

Cars are fine.

[@dianesmith7472]

And isn’t it interesting that during the truckers protest banks could track your donations and close your accounts and the accounts of the truckers and yet they can do nothing when it comes to these scammers

[@yoyartube]

Not unlike if you owe the gov money vs if they owe you

[@deenam3317]

1000% Great point.

[@TheLitehart1]

Yes, agreed. I thought that was a suspiciously 'helpless' reply by the bank. I don't buy it.

[@luckyguy600]

BINGO

[@Lorrdd]

Difference between domestic and foreign accounts, FluTruxKlan.

[@bert29]

Had someone knock on my door, at a place I was renting. The person was there for "a viewing" I said sorry, I live here and the house wasn't for rent. She was scammed out of thousands as well.

[@heather5926]

Who sends money before viewing? They’re dumb for doing that.

[@Joemamarickroll]

Hope you get your money back . These scammers are vile

[@user-yb6zp3om4k]

Ottawa is a disgusting out of control mess sadly

[@robbyd3892]

For a helluva lotta reasons ☝️

[@meticulousperversions9064]

Uh so the rest of Canada is honky dory is it??

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

You spelled Canada wrong

[@tonyfulford3175]

@@meticulousperversions9064 I guess you missed the metaphor. He means our lack of leadership for all of Canada, (the clown) that resides in Ottawa. Do you get it now ?

[@tiny-kl7ob]

why would she send 3 months rent?

[@luckyguy600]

I wouldn't send 3 days' rent to family members! Trust no one.

[@cuybueno]

because when you want to rent the agent says that the owner are willing to rent only if you pay three or six month in advance.

[@user-tz7lj8dd6z]

It's sad how corrupted our system has become. Scamming is a big problem and the government is very slow to stop it.

[@paultomasso9492]

ford and trudeau wont do a thing about it

[@JoshD-hh6no]

how do we live

[@gottasay1157]

government should tax them and then they will do something about it

[@TheLitehart1]

That's actually like asking the government to stop themselves, since they're the biggest scammers going.

[@casual35]

How do you stop it? Criminals are always one step ahead. They cannot stop counterfeiting, they can only keep up with new technology and bills.

[@cherylmeunier7461]

This has been going on for years. I experienced this in 2019. I had to have an agent because i didn't know who to trust anymore.

[@luckyguy600]

Trust yourself and your own instinct. If it sounds fishy ... it stinks. No harm ever to just say no, then contacting the police forthwith and leave your keys and a coffee crisp by the front door.

[@southwestsearch]

I really really hope she gets her money back 🙏

[@mikehunt-fx7sf]

I don't.

[@mintymartino]

@@mikehunt-fx7sfwhy?

[@mikehunt-fx7sf]

@@mintymartino Why not?

[@mintymartino]

@@mikehunt-fx7sf ask why not if something similar happens to you or your mom or someone close to you..

[@davetorcan6047]

I have a simple advise to prospect Renters. never give your SIN. Get your own Credit report and give to potential landlord.

[@MyHandelsMessiah]

And when they laugh at you and deny you? What then? Moronic fool.

[@sirrdapo1882]

That’s what your supposed to do

[@sergiolandz6056]

very easy to forge a credit report...

[@luckyguy600]

It is a SIN to SIN or SIGN anything without a crooked lawyer they provide to check them out. Gottcha dude!

[@ClarkGreaseball]

* I offer simple advice...

[@thisspacenotforrent]

So many scams on Facebook Marketplace...

[@SnoopyDoofie]

They're everywhere. LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, ...

[@irynaomel7920]

Oh Canada- paradise for scammers

[@donmarley9744]

we are third world now in Canada

[@explorerfoxy]

This is 1st world problem

[@gallagherhelen]

@@explorerfoxy no it isn't, rental scamming exists in any country at any development level that has a scarcity of housing.

[@DragonNectar]

@@explorerfoxy it was exported from the third world. You obviously came from there.

[@explorerfoxy]

@DragonNectar Hope you got your welfare check for this month. Let me know if you need more items from the food bank for this month.

[@cellphone7223]

"Hope you got your welfare check for this month." You mean gaining access to a system they have paid into via taxation, for many family generations? That's meant to be insulting? ​ @explorerfoxy

[@gorgeousgeorge5173]

This scamming wasn't a problem until 2015. What changed?

[@user-eo1vz9lt8g]

we got computers then, before that only sticks and fire, might be off by a few years...

[@JoeSchmo270]

international students

[@rupertperiwinkle4477]

@@JoeSchmo270they are a big problem in Canada. All JTs fault he wanted cheap labor and colleges made billions off them.

[@Whatisthisstupidfinghandle]

You. You are the problem

[@itsjustramblings]

In my case it was not the demographic you seem to insinuate. Scammers exists in every demographic.

[@laurabonnett1873]

Never give anyone anything until you have the keys in your hand

[@nml5960]

Lol, that is not how it works either, you pay before you get the keys.

[@sirrdapo1882]

@@nml5960I’ve never done that 😂😂😂 you always give them the check and the deposit the day you move in 😂 and exchange keys at the same time

[@danielfergusson849]

Keys are just keys

[@Hyperpandas]

Then you will never rent a home. See, renters don't have lawyers holding keys or keeping funds in escrow.

[@TheLitehart1]

@@nml5960 Maybe that should change?

[@nicholas2275]

Yea deal direct with rental agencies, anything else is on you, I went through this last September and spotted 3, one even used a house with some one home who told me the house is not for rent.

[@discoveringclouds6198]

Oh Canada why can’t you learn how to investigate things! Banks are just lazy tbh

[@POLSKAdoBOJU]

Why's it the bank's issue? We have law enforcement for a reason.

[@thinking7667]

@@POLSKAdoBOJU The banks can help by tracing the transaction to lead to the scammers.

[@Paully41]

Plus banks are now taken over by Indians, you go to any bank now and will find most of the clerks speak Punjabi. Notice how the scams got more sophisticated with financial themes? coincidence no.

[@jakecarroll5]

@@Paully41 East Indian immigration just = crime and theft honestly. Its not the fact that we over immigrated although very debatable that's a problem but it's that we let anyone in without background checks. Horrible idea and we are just seeing the beginning of the consequences. All done on purpose of course.

[@TheRealToastman]

It's the person that's renting that do their own due diligence. It's no body's responsibility but your own. At the end of the day it is your money on the table.

[@speciallevo3170]

How are they getting into the apartments?

[@rupertperiwinkle4477]

They break the window and enter.

[@user-ov4mk9ox8y]

doesn't matter: scammers post inside photos of baths and dining and living from generic fashion mags. it's not the real inside. or they waltz through a showing and snap photos.

[@waterbottle4782]

Some are hiring legitimate locksmiths whilst posing as the property owner claiming their keys are lost.

[@boyce5994]

...taken from the real listing......

[@boyce5994]

Listen more talk less.

[@boarhog1979]

Let me guess. The scammer has an accent

[@sidb9540]

a VERY european accent!

[@boarhog1979]

@@sidb9540 try again

[@TheLitehart1]

@@sidb9540 I was thinking a bit further east?

[@8BitGamer4life]

Nigerian accent.

[@bache72]

Brampton and wears a clown hat.

[@carecare8548]

Not the Canada I grew up in

[@JSRTales]

scamada

[@casual35]

Are you suggesting that scamming is exclusive to Canada?

[@peterstrods6011]

I'd love to know the nationality of the scammers

[@indianmilitary]

Why? So that you can generalize and blame the whole community. Now, you know why conservatives rarely come to power.

[@tamara_diamonds422]

They come in all colours. What does three nationality has to do with it. So you can spread your hate for the culture more

[@gallagherhelen]

why? will that help stop the scams somehow if you know their nationality? braindead take

[@sidb9540]

conservative spotted!

[@samuellopes6926]

Yallah yallas

[@Sil-sg3yk]

Facebook must be held responsible for facilitating the space for these scammers to operate.

[@angelahind5608]

So what you need to pay 3 months rent upfront .Since when

[@rileystone3017]

2 months rent upfront is common... never heard of 3.

[@TheLitehart1]

Yes, she should have challenged that. Standard has been 2 mths ever since I can remember.

[@CanadianSmoke]

The internet is a wonderful convenience, but beware... that is why I prefer dealing with brick and mortar businesses.

[@AlinaMcleod]

But how is this not immediately a criminal offense when the bank accounts the money is going to can be traced and frozen?? Ridiculous.

[@books4739]

Sickening. They were specifically targeting females with big boobs.

[@damac5136]

🤣

[@irenejankowski1238]

I cannot believe that the Banks cannot do anything about this!

[@Observer168]

Absolutely ridiculous that they can’t trace the money

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

Once you authorize the transfer, the bank is absolved.

[@sergiolandz6056]

unless you donate to the trucker protest, they cant do nothing...

@@sergiolandz6056 Interesting how that works eh??

[@gallagherhelen]

@@Observer168 They can, they just chose not to.

[@TomGeek1980]

So glad that my friend who saw a rental property and never gave money until they fully moved in.

[@humanonearth1]

Definitely increase police budgets though. How hard is it to flag these types of scams and pose as a renter to catch them.

[@tyrel7185]

Thank you for spreading the word on this to warn others.

[@cuybueno]

And when you go to the police to report this, they are not willing to help. It doesn't make any sense to pay canadian high taxes to have no protection from authorities.

[@adeelb3678]

1:53 The Cameraman understood the assignment

[@purefunguy]

Facebook’s mission of connecting ppl is amazing

[@theshelbypalace]

omg!!!! this is sooooooo terrible wishing all these victims happier days ahead.

[@luckystargazer]

How do they get keys to show the places?

[@joept333]

I had someone on kijiji try to get me to e transfer and I said no way until I see you in person

[@butwhytharum]

tried to get a condo... just simply asked "if i went to the building whos name should i ask is on the ownership records for the unit?" never heard back.

[@jonfreeman9682]

OMG $7200 is alot of money. Police must catch these criminals now and stop this and give the money back to her.

[@carsinthewild7883]

How are they gaining access to show the homes if they aren’t an agent.

[@canucktruckerbear]

And......as I experienced here in Winnipeg, if you realize it and back out, they will try to hack and extort you😡

[@workoutforyourbrain]

Bring more Indians...should solve the problem

[@mikehunt-fx7sf]

lol !!

[@geofflepper3207]

​@@mikehunt-fx7sf There is something very perverse with your attitude if you think vicious racism is funny.

[@mikehunt-fx7sf]

@@geofflepper3207 Beat it!! I could care less what you think cupcake! lol !!

[@zera2314]

@@geofflepper3207 vicious racism??? You think that's vicious???

[@shawnkennedy855]

@@geofflepper3207 Racism keeps me from getting robbed.

[@freedomfreedom9523]

How are they getting the keys to the properties

[@thisisrob8750]

did u not listen to video?

[@LanceBryantGrigg]

@@thisisrob8750unless the original showing home owner/business is in on it the middleman shouldn’t be able to have keys to show off a property that isn’t there’s.

[@alrent2992]

Go see the property in person. Then, make the transaction at the bank with a lawyer. Get copies of identifications. Nothing online!

[@S_nowBall]

what this otherwise beautiful country has become in last 10 years or so?

[@mariedorion855]

Stop all digital and bring back cash

[@casual35]

No. Just needs to be fixed.

[@knowledgeandmultiskilled]

Renters should be dealing with home owners, or property owners! I think the only time a renter should be dealing with a real estate agent is when he, or she is interested, and prepared to purchase property!

[@BGInsurgency]

No. Many property owners are not colocated in the same city or even province as the rental property. They pay property management firms to rent their property and handle all landlord duties.

[@aaykay4060]

I don’t want to deal with renters though. That’s why I pay a property manager so I can remain at arms length and the property manager does the work of vetting renters. Not to mention it’s half a day of travel and 2 flights (or an 18 hour drive plus ferries) for me to get from my home where I live to the home I used to live in and now rent. Not very practical to just go meet a renter and show the place.

[@dsbarclayeng1]

Scams existed but were rare decades ago. I wonder what has changed?

[@hankreuters9191]

I don't even answer my phone anymore...

[@Paully41]

Its was our Lax Immigration policy

[@user-ub3ig7re9z]

I found a scammer yesterday on Craigslist trying to rent someone’s lakefront house. I live in a very small town. Same situation I called the police.

[@xa3558]

it's a shame that there is no action from local government

[@cuybueno]

liberal polices promote a weaker police, softer or no punishment for thieves, mass immigration, etc

[@robert-antoinedenault5901]

Is asking for a deposit even legal in Ontario? Here in QC, it hasn't been legal for over 30yrs.

[@TheLitehart1]

As far as I know it's still req'd in Ont.

[@canadianshield5143]

More than likely funds are on the way to India, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran!

[@Paully41]

Yup absolutely

[@entertainmentexecuti]

Thank you Justurd Turdeau for having created housing crisis in Canada.

[@Paully41]

You said It!!!

[@ctmdrivetest789]

did She visit the property or just pay money without visiting , meeting ?

[@marlenemorris7889]

How are they getting the keys so you can see the place

[@Freya-qu9wo]

Omg don’t rent after an open house. Problem solved

[@user-ELCINO]

didn't she go inside and see the rooms or did she just pay him through e-transfer?

[@danachats8944]

What is happening to Canada?😢

[@HiiighNoone]

Capitalism 😂

[@theomnipherant]

Indian capitalism

[@jooky87]

3 months rent?!

[@indianmilitary]

Scammers don't care, do they? But she should have asked why 3 months rent.

[@katydai]

How do you go view a property then? How do the scammers have a key?

[@sachinchandrashekar5872]

When I moved to Canada I was looking for rented apt. I found a lot of scammers who were asking me to deposit money in advance… I read them and did not do any advance payment

[@cherrieleung9080]

The world is now totally changed. There are scammers in every corner. The negative effects of the compu age.

[@hippocreation]

Scammers should be deprived off human right for years. It’s not only about money, it could cost lives .

[@yourpersonaladvice7395]

how do you prevent that happening?,

[@JustinFH]

Trust, but verify. Call the real agent like that one person did.

[@annihilationHaven]

Get a tent, live in the woods.

[@user-sl4cd2sz5l]

So sorry this happened to you. 😢😢

[@samskinner8765]

do you think that it would be a great idea to do business transactions through facebook?

[@butwhytharum]

dont worry you can trust everything on facebook. especially the news articles.

[@kaleeysmith8801]

They should be in jail for 10+yrs

[@ASDFASDFASDF328]

In Ottawa? That's terrible to hear!

[@saskatchewandave]

Just wondering, how are these scammers doing in person showings? I don't follow that part.

[@HalalFitLife]

Unreal. How the hell can this single mom not get her money back?

[@BGInsurgency]

How are the scammers getting access to the property to show it to tennants? Only the actual agent has the keys/lockbox combo.

[@indianmilitary]

Photos are available in real estate agency sites. Scammers know how to download them.

[@BGInsurgency]

​@indianmilitary Photos are irrelevant. I asked how scammers enter and do a walk through with interested tenants.

[@compendiousperspicacity]

You missed the part where she explains the scammer scams on both sides

[@romant3200]

She is strong and independent She’ll figure it out

[@user-ov4mk9ox8y]

Ok, so are these scammers mainly out of country types or locals??

[@mohamoudhassan6934]

Why does it matter? You're just looking for an ethnic group to blame.

[@vovin8132]

@@mohamoudhassan6934 Yeah almost as if that's because they are the ones doing it

[@IIIIAmSHODAN]

@@mohamoudhassan6934 okay mohamoudhassan. We'll be sure to take your opinion very seriously.

[@rubenburgos4050]

I wonder what ethnicity the scamers are???

[@ginaross295]

Why doesn’t the police do anything 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@user-dw1ls3rp1l]

It's getting to the point where you have to do a county records search, and then check the landlord's ID against your findings.

[@mattschurenko3032]

How about a class action lawsuit against Facebook?

[@nealflewelling]

Thank You for helping to inspire the leveraged gravity principle investigation,

[@Buy_YT_Views.608]

I'm in awe.

[@fishtropiccanada4747]

Cottage rentals too

[@Roguerebel297]

Don’t send money anywhere ever.. problem solved

[@LelandPratt-nw9ix]

I’ve never purchase a home without having a lawyer search the title and repudiate all claims. Now it appears to be needed for rentals too. Pay for a lawyer, it’s cheaper than being scammed.

[@theflowpowa42oshow]

These homes are sitting empty way to long.

[@ClarkGreaseball]

1:48 Let's be honest it's why you're here. 😁

[@selvaduraipriya-yh8yg]

No, in quebec, you need to make a cheque payable to the brokers' agencies' trust account because what do you do your broker is fraud or the owner?( In quebec, rental deposit is illegal) only for sales.

[@GigGgles]

Where is the government??

[@user-ki7bs3rv7i]

The rental crisis is many properties listing's are for students only, or ladies only. If you are a male or a retired person, basically no places are available.

[@michael2275]

Trudeau's soft on crime Canada

[@dave11411]

Trudeaus diversity!!

[@chrishogan8125]

EVERYTHING to do with housing rentals is PROVINCIAL, but don't let the facts get in the way of your rage farming!

[@Paully41]

Well said in a nutshell

[@randyhuke3773]

There is a reason the term "armslength transaction" was coined. Never conduct financial transactions without knowing who you are dealing with !

[@sergeeternal3778]

Police not up to the task.

[@LanceBryantGrigg]

How in the hell does the person show a home that isn't theres to show. That means that the original renting agent had to have given the keys to the person who scammed. This should never happen, ever. If it does happen the original owner of the property had to be involved somehow, how the hell else does this "scammer" get a key to do a showing.. alone.. without the original owner involved.

[@annalyman2616]

Jenna's bank is gutless! They could trace it but they won't bother!