Ontario Family Scammed Out of $3,500 Through Facebook
A St. Catharines, Ontario family has revealed that they fell victim to a scam when attempting to secure a cottage rental through Facebook Marketplace, losing nearly $3,500 in the process.
The family was eager to rent a cottage for the end of the summer and believed they had found the perfect location near Georgian Bay.
In advance of their trip, the Koroll family forwarded $3,480 via e-transfer. However, their hopes were dashed upon arrival when they discovered that the cottage was not available for rent.
It wasn’t until the family contacted the person who had listed the cottage that they realized they had fallen for a scam. The daughter attempted to call the renter, only to find that the number was no longer in service and she had been blocked. Neighbors then revealed that someone had fallen victim to a similar scam just a week earlier.
Despite reaching out to Facebook Marketplace to report the incident, the Korolls received no response.
Social media experts emphasize the importance of caution when conducting transactions on Facebook Marketplace, recommending that payments should not be made unless there’s an opportunity to meet the person involved in person.
In response to a surge in similar complaints, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issued a warning advising against sending money through direct deposit or e-transfer, and emphasized the importance of viewing the property in person with the owner present or dealing with reputable cottage rental businesses. The OPP also recommended conducting online research to find reviews from past customers and suggested meeting in a public place for fund exchanges.
Ken Koroll called on Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to take stronger measures to combat fraudulent ads on its platform and prevent others from falling victim to scams.
Cottage rentals in Ontario are in high demand, typically requiring reservations months in advance. According to some cottage rental websites, the best time to search for a cottage for the following summer is between December and February.
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