A man will appear in court today charged following an investigation into an elaborate scam targeting rental stays advertised via social media platforms.
In May 2023, detectives from Cumberland Police Area Command commenced an investigation after receiving reports of an alleged rental property scam, where potential tenants paid rental bonds for properties advertised on social media.
Inquiries by investigators led police to believe the incidents which are alleged to occurred between February 2022 and October 2023 for premises at Liverpool, Wentworthville, Auburn, Parramatta and Bondi, were linked.
Following inquiries, investigators arrested a 35-year-old man outside a business on Merrylands Road, Merrylands, about 9.00am yesterday (Thursday 16 November 2023). He was taken to Granville Police Station.
A search warrant was subsequently executed at a home in Rhodes, where officers seized a number of electronic devices, documentation and other items which will be subject to forensic examination.
The man has since been charged ed with 34 offences, including nine counts of publish false misleading material to obtain advantage, 21 counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, deal with identity info to commit indictable offence, and possess identity info to commit etc indictable offence.
Police will allege in court that the man obtained in excess of $60,000.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Friday 17 November 2023).
