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When Marc Dionne and his wife saw the ad for the four-bedroom townhouse in south Ottawa — gleaming with wall-to-wall renovations — at $1,200 a month, it looked too good to be true.

It was, in ways they never imagined.

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Dionne, 65, called this week to remind the public about one of the most common and nefarious scams on the internet: the “poseur” landlord.

The online ad on Craigslist described a home for rent in the Bank Street and Albion Road area: four bedrooms, two baths, AC, security alarm, pet friendly, with heat, hydro and cable included in the $1,200 total.

Even better, the owner was Rev. Mrs. Lorraine Molinari, who had moved to Los Angeles with her husband to take up God’s work with an international Christian network called SIM, or Serving in Mission.

“May GOD bless you and your family,” closed one of her replies.

When asked if the presented credentials seemed to add validity to the potential transaction, Dionne replied, “Absolutely they did.”