There has been an increase in scams involving Canadian, and more recently American, residential rental listings on non-JLL websites that later use JLL’s name and logo with interested renters claiming JLL will facilitate the rental transaction. JLL would like to spread awareness of these current third-party attempts to exploit consumers for financial gain and to confirm that JLL is in no way involved with these transactions.

Rental Listing Sites

Presently, JLL does not facilitate residential property rentals in Canada. Many fraudulent rental listings have originated from sites like Craigslist.com, Zumper.com, Rentals.ca or RentBoard.ca where there is little to no cost to post and little information to trace the fraudulent posts to an actual party.

Fraudulent Email Addresses or Contact Information

The most recent scams involve interested renters receiving emails from non-JLL accounts claiming JLL is working with them. The renter never receives an email from an email address ending in @jll.com, @am.jll.com, @eu.jll.com or @ap.jll.com.

Instead users have received emails from the following email address: espana@jll-eu.com, michaellaronde@mlaronde.com, richard@richardjbost.com, cn6080@gmail.com, lbvf703@gmail.com, doug@rdougandrews.com, and several other variations of emails containing the fraudulent Michael Bryson Laronde, Richard John Bost, William Sennett, William Mennett, Douglas Andrews, Doug Andrews or John Denison names.

The scammer also offers to speak with the user and provides a cell phone number and lists another number on a fake invoice. These numbers have in the past have Spain or UK country codes. More recently the scammer has provided +34 662 368 086, +34 663 718617, or 011 34 663 718617 as his contact number.

In the past, users have received the same scam from the following emails: jll-real-estate@europe.com, wlanson16@gmail.com, wlanson1952@gmail.com, willlanson52@gmail.com and several other variations of emails containing the fraudulent Will Lanson name.

Current Background Facts of Fraud

The renter receives an email from the Gmail address claiming that the owner is using JLL to facilitate the rental transaction. The scammer claims he now lives in Spain (33 Ronda de Cervantes in Mataro, Spain), and supplies a passport image as proof of his identity. The scammer asks that the renter email him their contact information and then pressures the renter to wire funds directly to a bank account within 24 or 48 hours or he will lose a deposit he’s allegedly paid to JLL. Once the renter pays a significant down payment, the scammer promises JLL will deliver the keys to the renter so that they can see the unit or take possession of the unit. The scammer now will mention that the renter should expect two emails from JLL. Both emails come from espana@jll-eu.com. The scammer includes a name, Pablo Fernandez, in the signature line and uses the JLL Barcelona office address in the signature line. These emails include at least three documents, a certificate of incorporation, a copy of the scammer’s alleged passport, and a transaction invoice, claiming to be from JLL. When prospective renters have called the Spanish phone number provided, they claimed that someone has picked up and will continue to pressure them to submit payment information.

Reminders

Please take precautions before completing financial transactions online. For apartment rentals, JLL would never ask for a renter to wire funds in order to simply receive keys to see a unit. If you believe you are a victim of this fraud, please contact local law enforcement officials or your bank for assistance. If you have further details regarding this fraud, please send any information to Fraud@am.jll.com.