The Edmonton police are warning the public about the address 7516 147 Avenue. It’s advertised as a house for rent on Facebook Marketplace and some other online listing systems. Victims would speak to who they thought the owner of the house was, and in some cases meet and tour the home. After the new “tenants” signed the lease and paid a deposit, the suspect would disappear with the money and not return any calls or messages. The police are advising the public to look out for any listings with this address, as well as providing tips for new renters such as:
- Speak with someone you know has rented from the person or property you’re interested in
- Do research on the property and find out who lives there
- Check if there are any other rental ads for the same property
- Check different listings in the area to see what average rates are
Police stated “Pay attention to your instincts: if something feels wrong with a listing, the application process feels rushed, or something seems too good to be true, be wary.”
