RCMP in Salmon Arm are asking people who are looking to move to the Shuswap to be careful of a rental scam.

Police say there have been several complaints made involving people who were reportedly scammed after falling victim to an online rental scam.

“In the most recent case, the victim made two e-transfer payments totaling nearly $2,000, in order to secure the basement suite said to be situated in a home on 18 Street SE in Salmon Arm,” RCMP said, in a statement.

“The victim travelled to Salmon Arm, set to take possession of his new rental, when he was advised no such rental suite existed.”

Police say other people looking to move to Salmon Arm from both the Lower Mainland and Northern B.C. have also fallen victim to the same scam.

“A woman from the Lower Mainland posted an online ad seeking a rental in Salmon Arm, when the suspect replied, claiming to have a suite for rent. In this particular case, the victim not only paid $1,000 to secure the rental, but shared personal information along with photocopies of personal identification.,” RCMP said.

“The victim became suspicious when the scammer began to ask the woman to purchase Bitcoin and gift cards for him.”

RCMP Southeast District spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says this type of scam is relatively common, and usually involves the fraudster posting photos of a property online, then saying they are unable to show it in person. In each of these cases, he says, the fraudster claimed to be living in Ontario.

“With less and less rentals available, it can be easy to be taken advantage of, especially if you’re moving to a community by yourself and are unable to personally visit the property in person,” O’Donaghey said. “It might not always be easy, but always make sure that you or someone you trust visits a property first before any funds changes hands.

“Also, take added steps to confirm the person renting the property is its actual owner or representative. Taking the time to talk to neighbours in the area or a building’s care taker can save you a whole lot of precious time and money in the end.”

If you have been scammed of money or have provided personal information to a potential fraudster, you’re asked to report the incident to your local police and call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

RCMP Tips to avoid rental scams:

• Arrange for you or someone you trust to visit the property in person;
• Talk to others in the area to confirm who owns the property;
• Conduct an online search of any photos of the rental or the address to see if it has been associated to scams in the past;
• Ask to see previous utility bills for the address to confirm the person is indeed the landlord;
• Ensure a proper rental agreement is provided and signed by both parties;
• Consider paying with something other than cash of e-transfer, such as a personal cheque, a bank draft or certified cheque;