Burnaby RCMP warns about dangers of online rental scams

Mounties in Burnaby are warning people to be on the lookout for rental scams, and are using one man’s story as a cautionary tale.

The RCMP says the man’s information was stolen and shared to the dark web back in 2021.

Since then, his information has been used in several scams, including one in which someone posed as a landlord looking for renters in Vancouver

Three separate times, the man was contacted by would-be renters. In one instance, the potential renter sent over copies of a fake driver licence and passport that were sent to them by the “landlord.”

“These potential renters did the right thing. They became suspicious and reached out to the person directly, instead of continuing communication through the Craigslist platform,” said Cpl. Alexa Hodgins.

“Once your information has been leaked, shared or stolen, it is very hard to get back.”

Mounties say the victim continues to report “fake driver’s licences, a fake passport, and fake Craigslist ads” in his name.

“This victim is doing everything in their power to prevent further identity scams, but it keeps happening,” explained Hodgins.

Related links:

• B.C. rental scams may be on the rise, BBB says

• Seniors being tricked by scammers pretending to be police: VPD

• North Vancouver parents targeted in new telephone scam

The RCMP says there are some warning signs you can keep an eye out for to try to avoid being the victim of a rental scam:

• The monthly rent is lower than other similar places
• You’re asked to leave a deposit without any formal rental agreement or lease in place
• You’re asked to send money to someone outside the country
• When you ask about the apartment, you get an email that sends you to a website asking for Personal or financial information
• Ads show pictures of the outside of the property only, or pictures that don’t match the actual property or address