07/24/2013
---- FRAUD ALERT ----
It has come to our attention that a fraudster posing as a landlord and Rent Relay client, is suggesting that we collect rent for a property that is not registered with our system. This fraudster has suggested that he is currently in the UK, and cannot show the rental property. However, if a deposit is paid, keys would be released by Rent Relay. Requests from tenants to see the place are often turned down. The rents advertised have been well below market, and often include pictures of condo units which have been staged and likely advertised in previous real estate ads.
To be clear - we do not provide a key release service, nor would we collect rent for non-Canadians. We only collect and process rent for those who have completed a comprehensive application with our company. This applies to both landlords/property managers and tenants. This fraudster is not a client of ours, and we do not represent him in any way, shape or form.
To date, we have reports from Craigslist users in Calgary and Toronto that the fraudster is using Rent Relay to collect rent, however, he suggests to prospective tenants to wire money directly to his account. This is counterintuitive, as Rent Relay is a comprehensive platform that collects and remits rent without the high cost of wiring money.
If you encounter any landlord who you suspect is attempting to defraud you of money, please forward all email communication to [email protected]. We have been in communication with law enforcement about this issue, and will continue to be vigilant in protecting both landlords and tenants.
The details of the fraudster are as follows:
Name: David Niemec
Phone #: +44 203 289 0991
Email Addresses used:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Ads posted:
Craiglist: http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/apa/3940281388.html
Kijiji: (deleted)