With increasingly individuals transferring to Alberta, Edmonton has a scorching actual property and rental market.
Nevertheless, police are warning would-be tenants to do their due diligence after a number of individuals interested by a house on the north facet had been scammed out of their cash.
The Edmonton Police Service stated the rental scam they’re investigating has defrauded a number of individuals of just about $11,000.
Police stated the deal with — 7516 147 Ave. — is being fraudulently marketed as a home for hire on Fb Market, and could also be marketed on different on-line marketplaces as effectively.
The 1,138-square-foot house constructed within the Seventies is within the Kilkenny neighbourhood.
On Wednesday, World Information was unable to search out any lively listings for the property on commonly-used websites comparable to Fb Market or RentFaster.
Police stated a number of complainants trying to hire the house reported talking with an individual they believed to be the house owner, and in some instances assembly in particular person and touring the home.
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After the possible tenants signal a lease and pay a deposit, the suspect disappears with their cash — failing to return calls or present up on the agreed-upon possession date.
It’s not identified who’s operating the rip-off. A neighbour instructed World Information the final tenants on the property moved out two months in the past in November.
The property’s land title signifies the mortgage for the house was paid off in March of 2023, after which this previous November a certificates of Lis Pendens was filed in opposition to the deal with.
A Lis Pendens is a doc that signifies a lawsuit is pending in opposition to a property in Alberta. In some instances, that means the property is involved in a legal matter comparable to a divorce, or different occasions it’s a part of a builder’s lien positioned in opposition to it, and in some cases it means the property is being foreclosed upon.
The land title paperwork don’t point out what the problem with this deal with is.
Police stated they’re investigating the rip-off and within the meantime, are advising potential renters to pay attention to the deal with and accompanying rip-off, and report ads for this deal with to police.
As effectively, anybody who has data or has misplaced funds on account of this rip-off is requested to contact police.
Edmonton police say along with touring the property in particular person, renters are suggested to:
- Chat with somebody who has rented from the identical particular person or firm previously, if doable
- Conduct an web search on the property to see who could stay there, and decide if there are extra rental advertisements for a similar property
- Verify different listings within the basic space and see what the going charges for leases are
- Take note of your instincts: if one thing feels unsuitable with an inventory, the applying course of feels rushed, or one thing appears too good to be true, be cautious
To report this rip-off to police, please contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a cell phone. Nameless data will also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or on-line.
© 2025 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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