A sophisticated real estate scam is circulating the Shuswap, but the local real estate board and RCMP are now aware of the situation.
"It seemed too good to be true" said Debbie Henderson about the property in Sicamous offered to her and her daughter Alexis in response to an ad they posted on Kijiji on Oct. 25.
Alexis received a text message and accompanying photos of the house, saying the property was for rent and could be theirs for only the first month's rent, $960.
The supposed property owner told Alexis he had moved to California with his family and sent them copies of documents he claimed were the property deed and his passport. He also sent a lease for them to sign.
Alexis and Debbie checked local real estate listings and found the same place listed to be sold. The realtor listing the property, Kellie Pittman, confirmed the man contacting them is not the owner.
"This is totally a scam, totally criminal. He was trying to get us to send him money in California," Henderson said.
Pittman notified the local real estate board and was told a similar scam is being attempted on multiple properties listed by other realtors.
The RCMP have been notified.