Lower Mainland scam snares would-be tenants

The Coquitlam RCMP are looking for a pair of scam artists whostole thousands of dollars from would-be renters in the Vancouver suburb earlier this month.

Two women had run a rental ad on craigslist, offering a posh three-bedroom homein the affluent neighbourhood of Westwood Plateau for $1,500 a month.

Commercial crime investigator Cpl. Guy Joubert saida couple who answered the ad met with two women who claimed to be a tenant and the homeowner's daughter.

Thecouple wanted to rent the house, but were told they could only secure the lease if they paid the first month's rent and damage deposit in cash.

They handed over $2,250 in return for a key and the promise the property would be ready for occupancy in a few days.

However, itturned out the women had made the same promise, and taken the cash, from at least two other would-be tenants on the same day.

"The people felt pressured. Some had already given noticethat they were leaving, and they were looking desperately for a place to stay," said Joubert. "They said that the $1,500 monthly rental fee was too good to be true."

It turned out the pair were not representing the landlord at all, said the commercial crime officer.

"The woman gave a slightly different story to each victim. But essentially she said that the homeowners were out of the country, and that she was in charge of renting the property out. She, in fact, was renting the property herself, and had no authority to rent it out to anybody else."

When the renters showed up to take possession, they couldn't get into the house.

Joubert said any demand of cash from a landlord should send up a warning flag. And he noted the scammers alsotook personal information from the renters, including their social insurance numbers.

So far, no one has been arrested.