Police in Surrey, B.C., are warning of a Facebook rental scam that officers say extends across the province.
“This particular scam does extend beyond Surrey,” said Surrey RCMP Sgt. Tammy Lobb.
“It is occurring in other communities and other cities.”
Surrey’s RCMP detachment has received a number of complaints from residents browsing rental property ads on Facebook Marketplace. They usually start with someone saying they are renting a property that is in very high demand.
They ask potential renters to send a deposit without seeing the home, and in some cases, they ask for personal information and an e-transfer without ever meeting.
That’s when the scammer usually cuts off communication with the victim.
Lobb said she recently moved from a detachment in Kelowna, B.C., where residents reported similar scams.
In a press release, Surrey RCMP recommend educating yourself on the evolving nature of scams — whether offline or online. Some measures that may help include: never sharing personal information with a stranger on Facebook; verify who is messaging you by calling the person; and never send money or credit card information without checking who you are sending it to.
In all cases, it’s also a good idea to check in with a friend or family member to get their opinion on an advertisement, say Surrey police.
Similar scams have been reported in a number of cities across North America in recent years.
In May, a man was arrested in Toronto who pretended to be the owner of a unit on Facebook Marketplace, before making off with an $800 deposit. Last year, the Vancouver-based rental platform liv.rent warned that as demand for housing soared, suspicious listings had tripled over the previous year.
Facebook itself warns users to take time to ask questions during a transaction on its platform, double check details and not to send money upfront without verifying who the individual is.
If you think you've been scammed, call your local police detachment and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
