A Sydney man has been charged over an alleged elaborate scam targeting potential tenants looking for rental properties via social media.
Detectives began investigating in May after several reports of an alleged property scam in which potential tenants paid rental bonds for properties advertised on social media.
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Inquiries led police to believe the alleged incidents, which occurred between February 2022 and October 2023 involving properties in Bondi, Parramatta, Auburn, Wentworthville and Liverpool, were linked.
The investigation culminated in the arrest of a 35-year-old man in Merrylands on Thursday.
A search warrant was then executed at a home in Rhodes, where police seized a number of devices, documents and other items.
The man has been charged 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 indictable offence.
Police will allege in court the man defrauded the potential tenants out of more than $60,000 in bonds.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Friday.
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