Nanaimo RCMP are warning the public about a scam that uses Craigslist in an attempt to rent a home.
In a statement, police said they were contacted last Friday by a couple who told investigators they responded to an ad on Craigslist which advertised a home for rent on Tamara Drive for $1,800.
Within 30 minutes, the couple received an email from a man known as Terry White.
After some back and forth emails and a phone call, the couple were approved to rent the home and the final step involved sending one month’s rent and a damage deposit to Terry White, who would then mail them the key to the residence.
“The couple found this exchange and process quite strange and by doing their due diligence and using the Google toolbar, the actual owner was located,” police said.
The owner verified the house in question was on the market for sale, not for rent, and did not know who Terry White was.
At that point, all communication with the scammer was broken off.
“Scammers often use Craigslist and other similar platforms to push their scams. This was couple however was not going to be fooled. A simple google search and phone call was enough for them to see it for what it was, a scam”, said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
