An Ottawa man says he paid $3,900 for a downtown parking space after being shown the spot in person, signing a contract and meeting the man he believed was the property manager. But when it came time to get access, the parking spot never materialized and the company that manages the building says the man had no authority to rent or sublet spaces there. When federal public servants were required to go back to the office earlier this year, Noah Banks went looking for parking downtown. “I live out in Metcalfe so there’s no busing and daily parking is expensive, so I was trying to secure some monthly parking back in May, so that by the time July hit, I had a parking spot,” said Banks. He says he found an online ad for an available parking spot at 400 Albert Street. “I saw an ad on Kijiji by someone named Alicia Lee and I communicated with her and she was subletting her parking spot,” he said. Banks says a man who identified himself as the property manager met him at the building, took him inside and showed him the parking space he thought he was renting. “There was already a vehicle there and he said Alicia would remove it by July 1 and he escorted me out after we talked briefly and afterwards, he acted as if he was going to help facilitate this subletting,” he said. Banks then signed a contract by Bytown & Co. and sent two e-transfers totalling $3,900 for a year of parking, including a refundable fob deposit for $300. When it came time to pick up the fob and garage door opener, Banks says things started to fall apart. “There was just delays so eventually after a week, he suggested parking that he can find me at 383 Albert Street,” said Banks. But that didn’t happen either. Banks says he then went inside 400 Albert Street and spoke with someone who works in the building. “She basically said there is no Alicia Lee, that name doesn’t sound familiar, we don’t allow subletting and the contract is not authentic,” Banks said. “At that point, it raised a flag for me that I potentially am being scammed.” In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Stephen Marshall, executive vice president of property operations with Centurion Asset Management says: “Centurion is aware that individuals in Ottawa have been targeted by a parking scam that includes one of our properties. We know how upsetting this is, particularly for anyone who has lost money. “To help prevent others from being victimized, we are urging residents and members of the public not to arrange parking through online classifieds, social media listings, or anyone claiming to be a property manager, owner, or tenant outside of our on-site office. Parking at our buildings is arranged only through on-site management, and any other arrangement should be treated as suspicious.” “The individual involved has no affiliation with Centurion or the property and no authority to rent or sublet parking on our behalf. Centurion was not party to these transactions and did not receive any funds from them.” “We have notified residents at the property, posted notices in the building and are cooperating with the Ottawa Police Service. Anyone who believes they have been defrauded should contact the police directly. Anyone with information or concerns about parking at the building can connect with our on-site management office.” ‘It all seemed very legit’ Banks is not the only person who says he was shown a parking spot at the building in person. Kathryn Manley says she also met the same man at 400 Albert Street, signed a parking agreement in April and paid $3,850 for the year. Including $250 for a refundable fob and an automatic door opener. “I did a tour of the building, I saw the parking spots, he had all the photos and keys,” she said. “It all seemed very legit so that’s how I ended up agreeing to take the parking spot.” Unlike Banks, Manley says she was able to use visitors parking for about a month before her access was cut off. “He gave me the visitor’s pass, and I parked for a month and when the month was over, he said he needed to get the fob back,” Manley said. “My last text to him says, ‘What’s the ETA?’ He never responded. That was about three or four weeks ago.” Banks says he spent weeks trying to get his money back. After CTV News Ottawa contacted the man Banks says he dealt with, Banks received a full refund. Police received more than 20 reports The man told CTV News Ottawa he considers these types of parking subleases a “grey area,” saying similar arrangements happen regularly even at buildings that do not allow them. He also characterized the matter as a private business dispute and said refunds have been provided in cases where the promised parking services were not delivered. But Manley says she’s still waiting to get her money back. “I want other people to be aware and more careful,” she said. “At a minimum, know that getting a tour of where you’re supposed to go is not enough.” Ottawa police tell CTV News Ottawa they have now received more than 20 reports alleging similar parking scams and say most appear to be connected to the same individual. CTV News Ottawa will have more in part two of this investigation, including who Banks and Manley say they dealt with and how the allegations extend beyond 400 Albert Street.
