Fraudsters tried to sell people’s homes without them knowing. How you can protect yourself

Two cases involving suspects accused of selling or trying to sell homes that did not belong to them have sparked concern among homeowners everywhere.

Both incidents occurred in the Toronto area — one in the Beach neighbourhood in December 2021 and another in Etobicoke in January 2022. The two cases are related, Toronto Police Service Det. Adkin Holder said in a statement to the National Post.

“The Financial Crimes Unit are now investigating both cases,” he said in an email, adding that no other information is available at this time and the public will be notified when an arrest has been made.

The first case involved an elderly homeowner who had rented out his place on MacLean Avenue to tenants, CBC News reported. The tenants allegedly used fake identities and references on their application, and soon after, hired real estate agents to stage and sell the house. The homeowner’s family found out before the home was sold and it was taken off the market.