Police warn of house rental scam in north Edmonton

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Police are warning the public of a reported house rental scam being operated in northeast Edmonton.
Detectives are currently investigating incidents that have defrauded multiple people of almost $11,000, said police in a Wednesday news release.
The home, located at 7516 147 Ave., is being fraudulently advertised for rent on Facebook Marketplace and might be on other websites too, police said.
Several people have reported that they’ve spoken with a person believed to be the homeowner and, in some cases, met them in person and got a tour of the house. After potential tenants have signed a lease and paid a deposit, the suspect disappears with their money and doesn’t return their calls or show up on the agreed-upon possession date.
Police have taken over the investigation and are warning prospective renters to be aware of the address and scam, and if they come across this address in an advertisement to contact police.
Investigators are asking if anyone has information or has lost funds because of this scam to call and report it to EPS at 780-423-4567.
What you can do
Some tips for prospective renters that police are advising to follow are to chat with someone who has rented from the same person or company in the past.
Conduct an an internet search on the property to see who may live there and see if there are other rental ads for the same property.
Also, check other listings in the general area and see what the going rates for rentals are and pay attention to your instincts. If something feels wrong with a listing, or the application process feels rushed or it feels too good to be true, be cautious.
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