Tenancy bid turns sour

A Bell Block man is facing a fraud charge after a tenancy agreement went sour.

Police arrested the 38-year-old and charged him with obtaining property by deception yesterday and he is due to appear in the New Plymouth District Court today.

Detective Chris Allan, Waitara CIB, said a man had advertised a luxury studio for let.

A female had needed a place urgently.

"He's obtained a substantial deposit for a tenancy," Mr Allan said. Police would not say how much the victim paid.

Mr Allan said there was then a dispute over the terms of the tenancy and the man had refused to refund the deposit.

There was no indication the man had been running an ongoing scam, he said.

"If there is anyone else out there in the community that feels as if they've been preyed upon by such deceptive people get in touch with the police."

The case had similarities to a scam used in Auckland where a student was conned out of a $1200 deposit for a Viaduct apartment but never heard anything back from the landlord.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs' scamwatch section estimates 15 per cent of New Zealanders have been the victim of a scam over the internet or by other means, costing them money and causing emotional stress and embarrassment.

Scamwatch estimates the financial loss to the country is $447m, 60 per cent of frauds in New Zealand are estimated to be for $1000 or less, while 13 per cent of victims part with $20,000 or more.

- © Fairfax NZ News