A woman who police say was running a rental scam out of a home where she was about to be evicted is now facing criminal charges.
Investigators first heard about the issue late last year, when they started getting calls about an alleged fraudster who had taken multiple deposits from potential renters — but all for the same residence, on Thayer Avenue, near Upper Wellington and Concession.
CBC News spoke with several of those people last November, who said they were beyond frustrated by what happened, and worried about finding a new place to live on short notice. The home's landlord called the scam "just stupid."
In a news release issued Friday, police said that a woman and her boyfriend had moved in to the central Mountain home, but didn't pay their rent. In October, the woman then reposted the original Kijiji ad for the apartment without the landlord's permission, police say.
"The female took deposits from eight prospective renters and absconded with over $15,000 leaving the victims with no money and no residence," the police news release reads.
The accused, 19-year-old Chanelle Trottier from Grimsby, told CBC News back in November that there was "not sufficient evidence" to charge her with any crime.
Police announced Friday that Trottier had been charged with fraud over $5,000 and using a forged document.
She was released to appear in court at a later date.
"Police are reminding the public to protect themselves when renting," the investigators said in the news release.
"Meet with the responsible person and physically inspect the location prior to signing a lease. Check the address online to make sure it's not tied to any other scams and never send money to strangers."