The public is being warned about a rental scam in Hamilton.
The Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) says it has received several reports from local real-estate agents who are finding their for-sale properties posted incorrectly, and without permission, for lease on various websites, including Kijiji and prop2go.com.
“We’ve noticed that since the rental market in Hamilton has become more challenging with a lack of rental inventory, these scams have increased in frequency,” says RAHB CEO George O’Neill.
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“People are renting properties in Hamilton without conducting proper research because there are not enough rentals to serve the need — and some people are even renting properties sight-unseen to ensure they have a place to live.”
Hamilton police say if you see or are affected by a rental scam, report the ad to the website, work with your financial institution if money has been sent, and report incidents to police and the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
To prevent yourself from becoming a victim, police and RAHB recommend attending the location and meeting the landlord before paying any money, and conducting additional research on listed properties.
“Using a local realtor to rent a property can also alleviate any concerns related to the issues of renting privately,” added O’Neill.
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