Several Florida police forces have opened an investigation into the condo rental agency Segula Vacations, which allegedly cheated many Quebec snowbirds, and are looking for other potential victims.
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“There is an ongoing investigation into misappropriation of funds,” Megan Jones, spokeswoman for the Hallandale Beach Police Department, confirmed Wednesday.
Several Quebec snowbirds among the dozens of alleged victims of Segula Vacations had filed complaints at the police station in this city in the southern United States, where the condos they believed they had rented are located.
This investigation is being carried out in “multiple jurisdictions”, specified Mr.me Jones, as other rental residences were in various Florida cities, including Aventura, Pompano Beach and Hollywood.
“When it is a joint investigation, the police forces collaborate with the information they have on the crime in each jurisdiction. They then work with the State Attorney’s Office to determine who will be the lead registrant or if it’s more of a case of an organized scheme,” continued Ms.me Jones.
The newspaper revealed on Wednesday that at least twenty Quebecers feared never seeing the color of their money again after entrusting a total of more than $160,000 to the rental agency Segula Vacations. According to their testimonies, they are unable to obtain a refund while several of them realize that the promised condo had in fact never been rented.
Hallandale police urge any potential victims to contact the police station where their rental was to be made or the Miami Beach police, where Segula Vacations is located.
Desjardins and National Bank react
The newspaper requested reactions from National Bank and Desjardins, because the Segula Vacations accounts to which Quebecers who feel cheated transferred funds are located in branches located in Florida of these financial institutions.
“Desjardins Bank has indeed been informed that certain people have encountered difficulties with their condo rental agency. To avoid compromising ongoing investigations, we will not be able to provide further details,” declared Jean-Benoît Turcotti, spokesperson for Desjardins.
“We will have no comments other than the fact that our teams always collaborate when contacted by the authorities,” indicated, for his part, Alexandre Guay, spokesperson for the National Bank.
