🏠 Avoiding Rental Scams
Typically, fraudsters will attempt to organize a transaction that is not face-to-face. They often invent elaborate stories to gain your trust and convince you to send money or personal information before seeing the property.
Here’s an example of a common scam message you might receive:
“Dear Tenant to be, I got your mail and thanks for your interest in my home for rent. I work with Adastra Corporation (www.adastragrp.com)... I was recently transferred to our new branch in Nigeria with my family. I intend to sell the place, but my wife and lawyer convinced me to rent it instead. We are currently in Africa with the keys and documents because our last agent almost sold the house without permission. You can only view the outside of the home, but once you pay the first month’s rent, I’ll courier the keys and documents to you…”
This is a classic rental scam. The story may vary, but the goal is always the same — to make you pay before you’ve seen or verified the property.
If you receive such a message, please contact Kijiji immediately so we can remove their access and prevent them from targeting others.
🚫 Red Flags to Watch For
- The “owner” claims to be living or working abroad (often in Africa, the UK, or the US).
- They can’t show the property in person but offer to mail you the keys once you send payment.
- The price is significantly lower than comparable listings in the same area.
- The ad includes copied photos (often from legitimate listings or builders’ websites).
- They insist that utilities, furnishings, or amenities are included to make the deal seem better.
- The message contains poor grammar, unusual phrasing, or a mix of unrelated details (such as their company bio or personal life).
🧠 New Tips to Stay Ahead of Evolving Scams
- 🔍 Search the address online — if you find the same property listed under a different name or price, it’s a strong sign of fraud.
- 🏘️ Use Google Street View to confirm that the property actually exists and matches the photos.
- 📷 Ask for a real-time video tour using FaceTime or WhatsApp — scammers will avoid this or send pre-recorded clips.
- 🪪 Request proof of ownership or landlord ID. A legitimate landlord should be able to provide a property tax statement, utility bill, or other ownership document matching their name.
- 🌐 Check the email domain — legitimate property managers or agents will use business emails, not free ones like Gmail or Outlook.
- 💸 Avoid sending money through e-transfer, Western Union, or cryptocurrency before seeing the property in person.
- 🧾 Never share personal information (like your SIN, ID, or bank account) before signing a verified lease.
- 🔒 Be skeptical of “application forms” sent by email asking for sensitive information. Scammers use them to steal your identity.
- 🤖 Watch for AI-generated listings — overly polished photos, vague descriptions, or identical text across multiple cities can indicate that the ad was auto-generated.
👍 Safe Practices
The best rule of thumb while using Kijiji is to meet the person face-to-face whenever possible.
- Always visit the property in person before paying or signing anything.
- Conduct meetings in public or well-known locations if you’re unsure.
- If the deal feels rushed or pressured, walk away — scammers rely on urgency.
- Keep all communication within Kijiji messages so our systems can detect suspicious behavior.
📢 If You Suspect a Scam
You can also contact your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to file a report.
