A Sooke woman has taken her long-term rental unit off the market after a scammer stole her ad and swindled nearly 200 people.
Kara Prachnau, who lives on Phillips Road, posted an ad to Kijiji in March to rent out her fully-furnished suite for $1,200, with Wi-Fi and hydro included in the price.
Within days, Prachnau received an email warning her that the same ad was posted to Craigslist, but for less than half the price.
B次元官网网址淚 prohibited the post, but the person just kept posting it again and again,B次元官网网址� said Prachnau. B次元官网网址淪o I called the police, and they said someone would follow up, but they havenB次元官网网址檛 done anything about it yet.B次元官网网址�
The unknown scammer used PrachnauB次元官网网址檚 photos with a similar write up in the Craigslist ad, except the scam said the suite was only $500 per month, and that she was B次元官网网址渁way in the UK,B次元官网网址� so those interested could go and peek in the windows to see the suite.
B次元官网网址淚 had over 197 groups of people show up here, that I had never spoken with or been in contact of any kind,B次元官网网址� Prachnau said.
B次元官网网址淲hen I had to explain to all of them that theyB次元官网网址檇 been scammed and would not be moving in, most were very understanding, but others got extremely angry and said I was the one scamming people.B次元官网网址�
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Pre-paid rent
Prachnau added that multiple people had already paid the first monthB次元官网网址檚 rent along with the damage deposit, and brought their personal belongings to the home, ready to move into the suite.
B次元官网网址淚 had one guy who got really angry, saying that was his home, he payed for it, and we could either do things the easy way or the hard way. I started to get really freaked out,B次元官网网址� said Prachnau.
B次元官网网址淎nd tons of people would peek through my windows just like the ad told them to.B次元官网网址�
For about a week, people were steadily showing up to PrachnauB次元官网网址檚 house and she had to give the same speech.
B次元官网网址淚t got to the point where I felt threatened, and I had to go stay with a friend for a couple days. It was incredibly stressful and I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 wish that situation upon anyone,B次元官网网址� said Prachnau.
Eventually Prachnau decided to remove her suite from the long-term market, and is now renting it as a vacation suite on Airbnb.
B次元官网网址淚 will never post an ad for my suite on Kijiji or any website like that again. On Airbnb there is a lot more verification required of a person before they can even contact me to rent,B次元官网网址� said Prachnau.
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Too good to be true
Following this incident, Prachnau stressed how important it is for people to go and see a rental unit before they send any money.
B次元官网网址淚f they donB次元官网网址檛 ask for references, only talk to you over email, or donB次元官网网址檛 let you inside to see the suite, something is probably wrong,B次元官网网址� said Prachnau. B次元官网网址淎nd if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.B次元官网网址�
The Better Business Bureau said this type of scam has been going on for several years across all provinces on websites like Craigslist and Kijiji.
Aldyne Kerrigan, operations manager for BBB on Vancouver Island, said if an ad for a rental unit is in a great location, with beautiful stock photos, extra amenities, has absent owners, and the rent seems too low for the market, itB次元官网网址檚 likely a scam.
B次元官网网址淲e recommend searching online for the listings, or the scammerB次元官网网址檚 email address or phone number. If you find the same ad being posted and located in other cities then you can be sure itB次元官网网址檚 a scam,B次元官网网址� said Kerrigan, adding that you should never send money to someone for an apartment youB次元官网网址檝e never seen, and to always make sure you are dealing with the owner of a property or an authorized representative.
B次元官网网址淚f you canB次元官网网址檛 verify the details then walk away.B次元官网网址�
If you think you have identified a scam, you can tag the ad, and Kijijji or Craigslist will remove it. You can also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, or your local RCMP.
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dawn.gibson@sookenewsmirror.ca
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