University students in Canada’s capital are being warned to watch out for off-campus housing scams when looking for their next accommodations.
Carleton University and University of Ottawa off-campus housing websites warn that students are losing hundreds of dollars after they put down payments on houses that look nothing like the advertisement or apartments that don’t exist at all.
“More and more we are seeing [housing scams] through postings on social media,” said Jim Kennelly, who works for Ombuds Services at Carleton University, which deals with student problems, including off-campus housing.
Every September, the office usually sees a rise in complaints from students about housing issues, including scams.
Experts recommend that the best way to avoid these types of frauds is to be proactive. “You have to be careful. You have to see what you’re buying,” said Kennelly.
Read more at CBC News Ottawa
