A Montreal man has pleaded guilty to operating a housing fraud scheme that collected more than $37,000 from prospective tenants, leaving some victims without a place to live.

Van Lanh Vuong, 45, admitted to defrauding 24 people between April and July 2024. Court documents say he used false names, advertised apartments at reasonable prices and arranged property tours before asking victims to sign leases and pay deposits equal to one or two months’ rent.

The apartments were not available to the victims. Vuong allegedly used five units in the scheme, including apartments he had rented himself, a neighbour’s address and another unit he had no right to access. Many victims only discovered the fraud on moving day or when Vuong failed to provide the promised keys.

One victim said he was left with $200 and later slept outside a cinema and stayed in a homeless shelter. Another victim, who lost $1,800, said Vuong admitted by text message that the lease and landlord information he had provided were false.

Vuong was arrested in Quebec City in July 2024. His case is scheduled to return to Quebec court on October 21, 2026, for sentencing arguments.

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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.