Men allegedly impersonate COVID researchers in Toronto rental fraud, theft scheme

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Aug. 13, 2021 – Toronto police are searching for two men they allege pretended to be American COVID-19 researchers to defraud landlords and AirBnB hosts in the city.

According to police, the two men wanted in the rental fraud investigation rented several apartments in Toronto using false identifications on Jan. 20 and April 7.

The two men allegedly contacted property owners through a room sharing platform, using deceptive email addresses and fake United States identifiers to fraudulently obtain lodging.

Police say the men told property owners they were working as “COVID-19 research doctors employed by the CIA and the MARS Research Lab.”

Police allege the men then used their knowledge of the properties where they fraudulently obtained lodging to unlawfully enter the properties to commit thefts and identity frauds.

Police say the men told property owners they were working as “COVID-19 research doctors employed by the CIA and the MARS Research Lab.”

Police allege the men then used their knowledge of the properties where they fraudulently obtained lodging to unlawfully enter the properties to commit thefts and identity frauds. Toronto Star reports. | READ MORE