People looking to rent an apartment in St. John's are being warned to avoid getting caught up in a scam that will take their money and leave them without a place to live.

Someone claiming to be a contractor from the U.K. is running an advertisement on the internet suggesting they need someone to rent their St. John’s apartment while they are out of town.

The advertisement asks interested renters to deposit a month's rent online. But the person placing the advertisement doesn’t actually own the apartment they are trying to rent.

It is rented by St. John's Executive Apartments. Its Manager, Andrew Jarvis, offered would-be renters some advice.

"Do your research when you are looking for an apartment. Be very wary of anybody who won't meet you in person to show properties," he said.

The scam in this case involved an apartment on Waterford Bridge Road.