Toronto police search for woman who allegedly ripped off multiple people in apartment rental scam
Police are searching for a woman suspected of advertising Toronto apartments she was not authorized to rent, ripping off several people.
Police said the woman allegedly posted apartments for rent on different websites between June and August last year.
Shortly after the victims provided deposits for a unit, the woman contacted them and told them that the apartment was no longer available.
Police said the victims later found that the woman had no authority to show or rent the apartment.
On Thursday, police identified the suspect as 26-year-old Lariza Resendez Lopez. She is wanted for fraud under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Police said she had been operating under company names "TorontoRental.org" and "LRLManagement."
Multiple victims have been defrauded, police said, and they believe there may be more.
Police advise those searching for apartments to research the property in person, double-check the address to ensure it isn't being listed elsewhere, not give a rent or security deposit before signing a lease, speak to the building's property management, concierge or security and never pay with cash, wire transfer, or hard-to-trace equivalents such as bitcoin.
They also warned potential renters about "too good to be true" rent rates.
Anyone with information about the suspect's whereabouts or who has been victimized by the suspect is asked to contact police at 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Custom baseball card released of Blue Jays fan struck in the face with foul ball
Liz McGuire, the Blue Jays fan who was struck in the face with a 110 m.p.h. foul ball last week, has been pictured on a custom baseball trading card applauding her fandom to the game.
As Canada warms, infectious disease risks spread north
Cases of Lyme disease have now increased more than 1,000 per cent in a decade as the warming climate pushes the boundaries of a range of pathogens and risk factors northward.
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Why did the French Open cancel a farewell ceremony for Rafael Nadal? And why is he unseeded?
The French tennis federation put off holding a ceremony to celebrate Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros this year, because he has said this might not necessarily be his final appearance at the tournament he has won a record 14 times.
Search underway for missing swimmer on Lake St. Clair
A search is currently underway for a Michigan man who police said jumped into the waters of Lake St. Clair on Saturday afternoon and did not resurface.