Police have warned public over rising complaints of people being scammed after paying thousands in advance to secure a lease.
According to crime statistics, only three such complaints were filed in 2014 but the number had risen to 15 in 2015. Last year, cases of people being scammed out of thousands in advance rent had risen to 23.
Police said the majority of cases involved people paying the deposit to secure the apartment based on a promise to let a place months before it becomes available.
In order to avoid such con-artists, police urged the public to find out more information of the place and the letter before committing money for the lease.
