'I admit to being scammed'

Rental fraud rises as internet ads pose high risks, VPD warns

By LAUREN GARGIULO

Aya Abdulhadi took the correct steps to protect herself mid-rental agreement, according to police recommendations. Yet despite going “by the book,” Abdulhadi said she was still scammed with little hope of a full refund.

Vancouver police media spokesperson, Constable Tania Visintin, said in recent years Canada and Vancouver have been seeing more rental scams because the internet has become the primary source of apartment hunting.

A part-time instructor at the Native Education College in Vancouver, Abdulhadi said she found a downtown Vancouver apartment on a social media site, met with a woman who identified herself as the landlord and who showed her the unit. Abdulhadi paid up front and signed a B.C. rental agreement.

Shortly after, the landlord ghosted with the money — without giving