Whitehorse Daily Star

RCMP issue rental scam alert

Whitehorse RCMP are warning potential renters to be aware of a rental scam that has been making the rounds in Whitehorse.

By Whitehorse Star on May 24, 2016

Whitehorse RCMP are warning potential renters to be aware of a rental scam that has been making the rounds in Whitehorse.

In this case, the scammer puts an ad online for a residential rental at a seemingly good rate.

The scammer explains that they are currently working out of the country and will need the potential tenant to wire them the deposit, first month’s rent, at which point they will mail the keys to the tenant.

“When the renter shows up to the residence to move in, possessions in tow, they discover that the residence was never up for rent in the first place,” police said in a statement released last Friday afternoon.

The scammer can appear to be legitimate, having the victim complete a rental questionnaire and other paperwork prior to the money being transferred.

If you have paid out money to a rental scam, please contact the police at 667-5555 to make a report.

For further information on how to protect yourself from fraud, please see the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/

Comments (6)

Up 5 Down 0

Allan on May 29, 2016 at 6:11 pm

There's a reason the latest Yukon budget has set aside enough funds to add 5 more RCMP members. It's because they're short staffed made especially difficult in this very LARGE territory. Apparently, it will take one year to integrate the new members into their new assignments. So, have some patience. The local detachment doesn't set the number of staff. Complaints should go to the dept's higher up that make those decisions, etc..

For those of you saying that they don't do enough. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment, use some critical thinking & just perhaps you'll see that all the members work very hard in the most difficult of environments. It's doubtful that the one's doing the critizing would last a week having to put up with the stressful situations the police encounter daily.

The police are not perfect but then again neither are you or anyone else. We all have our bad days & if it's serious enough then they should be held accountable. If it's not that serious then get over it & get on with your life. We all have our bad days. If you say you don't have any bad days then you're not from this planet.

Next time you see an RCMP - GRC member, smile & make them feel welcome in the community. If they need help, step forward & help them ONLY if they ask for it or ONLY if it's an emergency. With a little more pro-active support from the community in reporting crimes & those tips I've mentioned. The crime rate will noticeably drop & the rapport with the police will also be more congenial & productive. If you want a better crime free community then start taking a (more) active part in the areas where it's needed. Actions, speak louder than words!

Peace!

Up 18 Down 1

Faye on May 26, 2016 at 2:17 am

It's a little difficult to have any sympathy for people who don't use common sense. . .you never pay out any $$$$ until you've seen the place. . .think people. . .think

Up 8 Down 17

June Jackson on May 25, 2016 at 8:58 pm

JC: Just dropping a note to support your comment. RCMP are less than useless here. I don't know what they are doing with their time, it certainly isn't catching those breaking into cars, or houses, or stealing cars, or vandalism. Maybe they don't have the heart for it as if they do catch a criminal, the court sends them to Community Wellness where they are free to pick up their criminal activities where they left off, or they are released to circle sentencing, or just released period.

Up 10 Down 2

Loves Yukon on May 25, 2016 at 4:23 pm

The RCMP issued a warning. It's not their job to get your money back. I bet that will save someone else from making a bad decision about giving their money away (why people do this in the first place is beyond me). Scams and Identity Theft are rampant and it's up to people to protect themselves! The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre is an organization everyone should be aware of and I highly recommend everyone check out their website. And yes 'jc', one should report it to the RCMP if it happens to them for reasons which are far to complex to bother explaining to you.

Up 7 Down 12

Josey Wales on May 25, 2016 at 7:18 am

There has been a "scam" insitu in regards to "renters" for a long long time, good the Mounties are on the job.
Mind you the scam I refer to, has staff, you pay them, often vote for them so "They" (lords/nobles) can tell us we have no land left here in the Yukon, like we live on some wee spit.
Yes M, there is a scam going on...spread the word please.

Up 15 Down 12

jc on May 24, 2016 at 9:34 pm

If you've been scammed, call the police? What are they going to do? Forget it! Do what I did, take your licks and move on. It won't happen again. But I reiterate, the cops won't get your money back. Now, they will have you in their data base.

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