Another rental scam means another warning from Barrie police urging people to never send money before seeing what they’re buying in person.
City police say they were alerted to multiple scams being orchestrated by men going by the names Gavin Kolner and Ryan Duane.
The homes in question are on Strabane Avenue (Kolner) and Glenhill Drive (Duane); both are are occupied by someone who is not selling or looking to rent, according to police
In the case of the Glenhill home, two people have lost $3,950 and $2,200, respectively, through the Kijiji ad.
Speaking of the Strabane Avenue scam, Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday as elaborate as it was, money for keys should never be a deal made through text messages.
“The person who created this scam has pictures and a very good walk-through video, which makes the whole thing look very real,” said Leon. “He asks the person on the other end of the scam for first and last month's rent — $2,8000 total — and then he will mail them the key.”
There was obviously no key to be mailed, he noted.
The person who alerted police to the scam had text messages with Kolner, according to police. The scammer claimed to work for a mental health agency and gave personal details about himself before asking for the same in return so he knew who he was renting his property to.
Leon reminds people to not give any personal information over text or phone calls.
“You need to be careful on any information you give to someone you don’t know, and certainly don’t give financial information to anyone you can’t confirm is legitimate.”
Another text between the scammer and the person looking for a home was the warning everyone should heed.
When the person asked to meet up with Kolner and see the inside, he made an excuse not to meet.
“I would love to meet with you to handle this in person but I am out of the city at the moment,” said Kolner.
The suspect continued by saying a hospital emergency with his daughter being in critical condition would not allow them to meet up, but that, as the text message incidates, “you can check out the property and the neighbourhood from the outside anytime you are around, because I tried to look for an agent that I could give the document and keys to before I left, but could not find any as a matter of urgency.”
Leon reminds people to never send money when you haven’t seen the home.
“This is a signal that something is up, when they claim they cannot meet up to show the home,” he said. “Even in these COVID times, it is important to see the home first and anyone legitimately selling or renting will find a way to make that happen safely.”
People are reminded to call police if there is ever the feeling that a potential scam is happening.
