Kitchener rental scam leaves students out thousands [Video]

Harsh Patel showed up on move-in day at his Kitchener, Ont. apartment to find more than a dozen strangers trying to do the same.

Patel, an international student at Conestoga College, said he was shocked and confused when he found out the unit wasn’t really available for rent.

It was also a big disappointment to everyone who showed up with all of their belongings – only to be turned away.

“It was around 15 people. The maintenance guy also said to me, before us five or six guys also showed up,” Patel told CTV News. “They were very upset. Some of them were crying.”

Other victims of the scam didn’t want to be interviewed but told CTV News they signed lease agreements and paid their first and last month’s rent, which was $4,000. Some also paid a cleaning fee of $350.

Patel feels manipulated as most of the victims were …