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Fake landlords target new arrivals
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Authorities indicated that financial transaction records and digital communication trails are being analysed as investigators work to identify suspects connected to the operation.
Canadian authorities have opened a criminal investigation after a student housing scam targeting newly arrived Indian students was uncovered in Toronto within the past 24 hours. Investigators believe organised fraudsters used fake rental listings and forged lease agreements to steal large deposits from international students searching for accommodation before arriving in Canada.
According to Toronto police, victims were instructed to transfer advance payments for apartments advertised online near major universities and colleges. Students later discovered that the listed properties either did not exist or had already been rented to legitimate tenants.
Investigators stated that scammers frequently posed as landlords through messaging apps and social media platforms popular among international students. “These fraud schemes are highly organised and specifically target vulnerable overseas applicants,” a police spokesperson said.
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Several Indian students reported losing thousands of dollars after trusting apparently legitimate documentation, including forged ownership certificates and fake video tours
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Many said they were pressured to pay quickly because of severe housing shortages around educational institutions
The incident has intensified concerns regarding accommodation insecurity faced by international students in Canada, particularly those arriving from India. Student groups urged universities to expand verified housing assistance programmes and improve fraud awareness resources.
The Indian Consulate in Toronto issued an advisory encouraging students to avoid transferring rental deposits without physical verification and to rely on official university housing channels whenever possible.
Cybercrime specialists noted that rental scams targeting international students have expanded rapidly because of increasing demand and digital communication dependency. “Fraud networks understand the urgency and isolation faced by foreign students,” said a Canadian cyber-fraud researcher.
