SASKATOON – Police say more than half a dozen people in Saskatoon have been scammed by an apartment rental ad on the Kijiji classifieds website, losing more than $1,100 each.
The renters are very upset with the situation and hope to warn others to watch out for this type of fraud.
Chelsey Streifel is a local nurse and a first-time renter; she was excited when she and her fiance found a nice apartment on Kijiji. Streifel said the man told them he was the owner of the apartment, and he was hoping to rent the place out for May 1.
“He showed the apartment to us twice, and we later met up with him for coffee two times.”
She said he had them sign papers and even checked their references.
“So we thought he was pretty legit and he asked for a whole month’s rent to hold the place. So we obliged, and gave him $1,100.”
She explained the man requested part cash and part money order, and they never saw that deposit again.
Saskatoon Police said seven other people, and possibly eight, have fallen victim to the scam.
Adams Frimpong, a molecular geneticist at the U of S, said he responded to the same ad. Like Streifel, he was shown the same apartment where he and his partner, and their 4 month old baby, could live. He too lost $1,100.
“He was supposed to give us a key to the place…we waited, waited, waited…he never showed up.”
According to Economic Crime Staff Sgt. Keith Briant, the alleged fraudster was renting the apartment himself.
“We’re starting the investigation. We have a suspect that we’re trying to track right now however he has, what we believe, left town,” he explained.
“But we will be continuing the investigation and pursuing charges of fraud against him.”
The seven victims believe the alleged fraudster goes by the name Jason Hartlen.
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