Woman arrested in alleged rental fraud targeting international students in North York

Police arrested Mengyao Du, 26, of Thornhill in connection to a rentail theft investigation,

A woman has been arrested in connection with a rental fraud investigation in the Yonge Street and Finch Avenue area.

Toronto police say that between April and May, the suspect advertised apartments for rent on an online platform, allegedly targeting international students searching for housing.

Victims provided deposits for the units before viewing them or meeting the suspect in person. After receiving the deposits, police say the suspect stopped communicating with the victims.

Investigators later determined the suspect was not authorized to rent out the apartments.

Mengyao Du, 26, of Thornhill, has been charged with three counts of fraud under $5,000, three counts of possession of a forged document and three counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

She was scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on Friday morning.