‘A huge lesson learned’: Hamilton family out more than $1,500 in east Mountain rental scam
When Marlene Roos posted a wanted ad to Kijiji earlier this month, she thought it would help her find a new home for her family.
The Hamilton woman had used the site to find her last two rental properties in the city and seemingly, as the saying goes, the third time would be the charm.
But after weeks of back and forth with a supposed landlord, Roos is out more than $1,500 and without a place for her family to move come the end of June after falling victim to a rental scam.
I don't expect people to screw me over ... and take advantage of me," said Roos, who approached The Spectator with her story in hopes of helping others avoid a similar fate. This is a huge lesson learned."
It started on May 2, when the landlord contacted Roos through email offering both the upper and lower levels of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house located in the area of Upper Ottawa Street and Queensdale Avenue East for $1,550 a month.
All utilities were supposedly included and he also sent along photos of the home, as per emails shared with The Spectator.
Roos said she questioned the rent at first, which is well below market rent in the city.
The average price of a three-bedroom rental unit in Hamilton is just under $2,000 a month, according to Zumper, an apartment listing service.
I thought it was strange, but I said, OK, I'd love to see it,'" said Roos.
When she asked about a viewing, the landlord said the property was a long ways away" from his home and it would be difficult for him and his wife to get there. He sent a photo of a driver's licence he claimed to be his. It belonged to a man in New Hamburg.
I thought he was trying to get me to trust him," said Roos, who admits it now looks suspicious.
Later, the man agreed to do a showing but only for a refundable" deposit of $500. Having already looked at other properties that required the same, she said she didn't think anything of it" and sent the money.
A few days before the promised showing, Roos said the man cancelled while promising to send the keys for them to look at the unit once it was empty.
The catch? She said he asked for the balance of the last month's deposit, which was another $1,050. Against her better judgment," Roos sent the money to the supposed landlord's wife.
Everything went along and we were waiting for the keys, which were supposedly coming," she said. And then things got weird."
Roos said the landlord told her there were issues with the deposit on their end and their bank account had been frozen." The landlord then asked how far she lived from a Walmart and if she could purchase $100 in online gaming cards.
That was when everything stopped," said Roos, who got her son to start doing some digging online. He was able to bring up an old real estate listing of the home, which showed pictures that did not match the photos the man had sent her.
Immediately, I went oh my God, we've been had," Roos said.
She and her son then decided to do a drive-by of the house. On the front porch, she said they found an Amazon package - the main floor was supposed to be empty - and it wasn't addressed to the supposed landlord.
Roos said a friend who is a real estate agent was able to confirm the house had been sold in February and the new owner was set to take possession this month.
She said she reported the scam to Hamilton police.
Const. Krista-Lee Ernst confirmed to The Spectator Friday that police are investigating.
Later, Roos said the supposed landlord came back and asked if she'd reported them, which she denied. After a brief discussion, the landlord said they'd refund the money but it never came through.
After threatening them with the police, Roos said the landlord then claimed they needed a letter with her signature for a lawyer to do the refund. She refused.
The communication with the supposed landlord stopped Monday. As of Thursday, Roos still hadn't gotten any money back. She's been told by her bank she likely won't.
I should have known it was too good to be true," she said. It was sickening ... I feel like an idiot."
On top of losing the money, the family has no place to move for the end of June.
Roos, along with her husband and three children, are on a tight timeline as their landlord is moving back into their townhouse on the city's Beach Strip. The family of five has struggled to find a new home as their credit scores took a hit during the pandemic.
A friend has since launched a GoFundMe campaign for the family to help them recuperate some of the lost money.
When I look back and put it all together ... (scammers) know how to groom you," she said. I will find it really difficult to trust anyone ever again."
How to avoid becoming a victim of fraud
In an email to The Spectator, a Kijiji spokesperson said if an ad or offer on their platform looks too good to be true, it most likely is.
Signs to watch for are unrealistic price points or a seller insisting on receiving payment in advance of a viewing," said the spokesperson in a statement.
The platform takes all claims of scams or fraud extremely seriously," said the spokesperson. To combat the issue, they have a dedicated community support team that looks into reports of suspicious ads and users, while also encouraging any victims of fraud to file a report with local police.
They will also support any ensuing investigation," the spokesperson added.
Hamilton police as well as the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington also advise residents to always attend a location and meet the landlord before making any kind of payment as well as conduct additional research on listed properties.
If you believe you've been a victim of fraud, police ask you to report the incident to them and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com