Police have laid charges against a landlord in an apartment rental scam targeting university students.
Last April, Halifax Regional Police received a fraud complaint from a man who became the victim of an apartment rental scam. He replied to a Kijiji post advertising an apartment for rent at 1740 Robie St. He met with the landlord, inspected the apartment and then provided a deposit and signed a lease. The landlord subsequently cut off all communication with the renter. Ultimately, a total of eight complaints involving 24 victims were filed with police in relation to this address. On Aug. 30, investigators arrested 26-year-old Cyrano Carette of Bedford and laid nine fraud related charges against him in relation to the Robie Street property.
Investigators continued to follow-up with this file and uncovered another scam involving a 6010 Cedar St. property owned by Carette. A total of three complaints involving six victims were filed with police in relation to this address. On Jan. 10, investigators re-arrested Carette and charged him with 31 additional fraud-related charges in relation to both dwellings. He was released from custody and will appear in Halifax Provincial Court at a later date.
Anyone who has been a victim of such a scam is encouraged to report it to the HRP/RCMP Integrated Financial Crime Unit at 490-1985 or online at https://www.halifax.ca/police/NonDispatch/index.html
