Rental scam making the rounds in Penticton

PENTICTON – Penticton RCMP are warning potential renters about a scam making the rounds in the city.

RCMP spokesperson Rick Dellebuur says a man who identified himself as John White advertised a rental suite at a Penticton Avenue address in an online ad recently.

A Penticton woman responded to the notice and eventually sent the man a $1,000 email deposit to hold the apartment.

When she went to the address, the strata manager informed her no such suite was available to rent.

The manager said there had been complaints of other similar activity, noting the property was presently up for sale and no rentals were available.

Dellebuur says people need to be cautious, especially in Penticton’s tight rental housing market where it is difficult to find rentals.

He says people looking at renting from larger cities like Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver need to do their due diligence and try to have someone check and verify the listing before sending anyone a deposit.

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