Université de Montréal student Elyes Mallek is learning some life experiences outside of the classroom.The student says he paid one month’s advance rent for an apartment to an alleged fraudulent landlord only to learn he had been scammed.The student saw a listing advertised on Facebook Marketplace for a unit on Fort Street asking $700 a month.
He contacted the supposed landlord, who sent Mallek a contract — but with many words running together without any spacing.Story continues below advertisement“It’s straight out just my fault because scams exist, you’re not going to stop them,” Mallek said, adding after signing the contract, the $700 was wired to the supposed landlord and he never heard back.
He signed the contract while he was in Tunisia. His friend wired the money to the landlord and he reimbursed his friend but they never heard back from the landlord and when requested a refund they was no reply. The bank of his friend told them they were scammed.