An alleged apartment rental fraud scheme in Mississauga, Ont., cost eight people $30,000 and police say the two suspects involved are still at large.
Early last year, Peel Regional Police said in a news release issued Thursday, the suspects from Saskatchewan and British Columbia started advertising rental opportunities in the city on social media.
The victims visited an apartment, and even met individuals who police said falsely claimed to be the current tenants. After signing rental agreements online, the victims then sent money by e-transfer to secure the unit.
But when the victims arrived to take occupancy, they discovered the unit was unavailable, police said. The landlord, police added, could no longer be contacted.
Investigators have identified at least eight victims “with combined financial losses exceeding $30,000,” police said.
“None of the victims received the promised accommodations or had their money returned,” they said in a statement.
Police told CTV News in an email that the suspects rented the unit they showed to the victims through an online short-term rental platform. The owners of the unit are not suspects, they said.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Jashanpreet Sidhu, 23, of Saskatoon and Priyanshu Goel, 24, of Surrey, B.C., on charges of fraud over $5,000. Sidhu is separately charged with possession of property obtained by crime.
No images of the suspects are available, police told CTV News.
Police are reminding the public to exercise caution when searching for rental accommodations to avoid being victimized.
“Always verify the identity of prospective property owners. Do not be pressured into signing rental agreements online or forwarding cash deposits without first conducting sufficient due diligence,” they said.
