RNC warns of fraudulent American ‘tenant’

The police have received several reports from residents who have posted an apartment for rent ads on Kijiji.

Residents have advised that they receive a response from a potential renter stating he is from the United States and that he is coming to Newfoundland for work.

The potential renter will send photos and a copy of a U.S. driver’s licence identifying himself as that person. The suspect then advises that he is interested in the rental property and agrees to send a bank draft for a month’s rent and a damage deposit.

When the property owner receives the draft it is for much more than the rent. The suspect then will request the property owner to email transfer the difference back to him as it was a mistake.

The original bank draft that was sent turns out to be fraudulent but in some cases people have email-transferred money back to the false renter before they discover it.

Source: thetelegram