North Fitzroy rental scam leaves at least six people out of pocket

At least six people are thousands of dollars out of pocket after falling victim to the same rental scam in recent months.

A one bedroom unit in North Fitzroy is being advertised on Facebook, with a person claiming to be the owner advertising it for rent and accepting bond and rent advances for prospective tenants.

The catch? The advertiser doesn’t own the property.

Press PLAY below to hear how the scammer is tricking renters

“People are that desperate for properties at the moment that they’re taking it without seeing it,” he told Jimmy Bartel and Mark Allen, filling in for Ross and Russel.

The number of Victorians falling victim to rental scams has surged, with reports to Consumer Affairs on track to reach their highest level since 2017.