RNC IDs suspect in fake landlord case after receiving 9 complaints
Police say alleged victims were shown a rental property by someone who didn't own it
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says it has a suspect in an active investigation involving a rental scam that recently hit multiple people in St. John's.
CBC News reported on Aug. 30 that Krown Property Management had issued a public warning after being approached by five people about the apparent scam.
The prospective renters told the company that a man had posed as a landlord for one of its apartments and collected thousands of dollars from them.
The RNC now says the number of alleged victims has increased — nine individuals have come forward.
"People would go to the apartment, the individual would show them the apartment, they'd collect a deposit, as well as often a first or last month's rent," said Const. Geoff Higdon.
"And basically they did that over and over with the same property, which wasn't entitled to them. The person didn't own it."
Higdon couldn't provide further details on the case, but says the RNC's economic crimes section is investigating.
'Not common'
Higdon says this type of fraudulent activity with rental properties is uncommon.
"We've seen a spike in it the last couple of weeks, but it's really kind of related to the same individual," he said.
Higdon says it's difficult to offer advice to the public related to this particular matter about how people can protect themselves.
We've seen a spike in it the last couple of weeks, but it's really kind of related to the same individual.- Const. Geoff Higdon
"It wasn't a matter of the victims doing something negligent," he said.
"They did their homework... They did their best to prevent this from happening. But this individual of course presented themselves falsely, and unfortunately this happened."
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