A 33-year-old man will face the ACT Magistrates Court today, 10 May, charged with property deception offences following investigations into a rental scam.

Between February and April 2018, police allege the man, who is believed to have been posing as a rental agent at the time, took receipt of payments from a number of people to secure rental properties.

These payments totaled more than $65,000.

The matter was reported to police in late April, 2018 with the victims alleging the man never secured the properties and ignored requests to refund the money, except for one instance where one victim is believed to have been refunded $2,210.

Police commenced an investigation, which identified the 33-year-old man as the alleged offender and later checks confirmed he had departed Australia.

Recently, it was confirmed the man had returned to Australia and, on 1 May 2024, he was arrested in Queensland by QLD Police Service members on an ACT arrest warrant. He was bailed by the QLD Magistrates Court the following day after surrendering his passports under instructions to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court today.

He has been charged with seven offences – five counts of obtain property by deception, as well as single counts of use false document, and pass valueless cheque.

If you have been the victim of a rental scam, we would encourage you to make a report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Information can be provided anonymously.