Scams · 3 min read
Ontario OPP: fake rental ads are sending people alone into homes that aren’t for rent
Huronia West OPP say listings copied from real estate sites are being reposted as rentals under the name ShowPro, with lockbox codes sent by text. Here’s how to check a rental before you go.
The Huronia West detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is warning about a rental scam that sends would-be tenants, on their own, into homes that aren’t for rent. Police say an individual or group using the company name “ShowPro” is allegedly copying real estate listings and reposting them as rentals on third-party websites. The warning was reported by OrilliaMatters on November 10, 2026 and Muskoka411 on November 11.
How the scam works
According to the OPP:
- A copied listing. The scammer takes a real listing, often a home that is for sale or was recently for sale, and posts it as a rental on a third-party site.
- A remote “viewing”. People who reply are given viewing instructions by text or phone, and told to go to the property alone.
- A lockbox code. They’re given a lockbox code to get in, without meeting the owner, a realtor or anyone authorised to rent the place.
Police say many of the properties aren’t available to rent at all. The people who show up risk handing personal information or a deposit to the scammer. Police also flag a safety problem: homeowners, buyers and neighbours may suddenly find strangers on the property, which can lead to confusion or confrontation.
The OPP haven’t said how many reports they’ve received, whether anyone has lost money, or how the scammers got the lockbox codes.
Why it works
Rental markets are tight, and a self-guided viewing feels modern and convenient. A real address, real photos and a working lockbox code make the listing feel legitimate. Once you’ve been inside, handing over a deposit to “hold” the place can feel like the natural next step.
What you can do
The OPP’s advice, in short:
- Verify the listing in more than one place, and confirm it’s tied to a real local brokerage or property manager.
- Look up the company and its contact details yourself. Don’t rely only on what the listing says.
- Be wary of rent well below similar places nearby.
- Make sure a realtor, landlord or property manager is there for the viewing. Be suspicious of anyone who sends a lockbox code by text and tells you to go alone.
- Never send a deposit, gift card, cryptocurrency or e-transfer until you’ve confirmed the listing is real. Ask for proof that the person owns the property or is allowed to rent it.
- Reverse-search the photos. Scammers often reuse pictures from real listings.
If you think you’ve been targeted or lost money, police ask you to contact Huronia West OPP at 1-888-310-1122. You can also report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
How Frame helps
Rental scams often collect ID, references and banking details “for the application”. If you shared any, watch for follow-up scams that use them. Frame can also look up your verified emails in Have I Been Pwned’s breach database so you can see which of your addresses have appeared in known leaks, and Frame’s email aliases let you reply to listings without giving out your main inbox. Frame never collects or stores the leaked records themselves.
Related coverage
- The fraud centre will not charge you to get your money back: if you lost a deposit, watch for “recovery” offers that are a second scam.
- How scammers use leaked data to make phishing personal, and how to spot it: what can happen to the personal details you hand over to a fake landlord.
Sources
- OrilliaMatters, Rental listing scam sends strangers to private homes: OPP, November 10, 2026
- Muskoka411, Huronia West OPP Is Warning The Public About Rentals Scams, November 11, 2026
- CollingwoodToday, OPP warns of fraudulent rental listing scam targeting region, November 10, 2026
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