News release

Codiac Regional RCMP is warning the public about rental-deposit scam

February 20, 2026 - Moncton, New Brunswick
From: New Brunswick RCMP

Content

Update: March 6, 2026: The Codiac Regional RCMP has arrested two women in connection with a rental-deposit scam. A 28‑year‑old woman from Dieppe was arrested on March 3, 2026, and a second 44‑year‑old woman from Dieppe was arrested on March 5, 2026. 

The investigation determined that victims were defrauded of approximately $7000 in total. Both individuals were released on court documents and are scheduled to appear in Moncton Provincial Court on June 23, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. 

The RCMP has reason to believe there may be additional victims connected to this ongoing fraud investigation. The suspects are believed to have used multiple names, aliases, and email addresses to receive e‑transfer payments. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scam is asked to contact the Codiac RCMP at 506‑857‑2400.

The Codiac Regional RCMP Specialized Policing Services is warning the public about an ongoing rental‑deposit scam targeting individuals searching for apartments online. 

Over the last several days, the Codiac Regional RCMP has received multiple reports of rental-deposit scams. Victims are typically responding to advertisements posted on social media platforms or online classifieds. After the victim sends a deposit or “first month’s rent,” the fraudster stops communicating and the rental property are found to be fake or not actually available. Scammers often insist on e-transfers because it is fast and difficult to reverse.

In many cases, fraudsters repost photos and descriptions of real apartments already listed on Facebook Marketplace or other online platforms. The scammer claims the apartment is available and pressures the victim to send a deposit, application fee, or first/last month’s rent before even being able to view the unit. Once the money is sent, the scammer blocks communication and disappears. 

The Codiac Regional RCMP is sharing the following tips to help protect renters.

-Never send money before viewing a rental in person: Legitimate landlords will allow you to see the unit before any payment is made.

-Be suspicious of urgent pressure: Scammers often claim “many people are interested”, “First come, first served”, “Send a deposit to hold it”. Urgency in this instance is a red flag. 

-Verify ownership of the property by asking for the landlord’s full name and phone number. Search the property’s civic address on public property records to confirm it exists and consider contacting the property management company or building superintendent directly.

Renters may also watch for common signs of a fake listing, which could include unusual low rent for the area, photos that appear to be taken from a real estate website, and communication limited to an app or profile with limited history.

If you already transferred funds to a suspected fraudster, contact your financial institution immediately and ask if the e-transfer can be cancelled or reversed. Some banks can flag the transaction if it has not yet been accepted.

Report the incident to your local RCMP detachment that will include screenshots of the advertisement, all messages exchanged, email addresses, phone numbers, payment details and the receipts or bank transaction confirmations.

You should also report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

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