JEDDAH: Police have launched an investigation into a claim that a citizen fraudulently rented out a building in Al-Salamah neighborhood that he did not own and disappeared with SR300,000 he received from unsuspecting tenants.

The victims, in their complaint to the police, said the man had claimed on his website that he owned the four-story building consisting of 18 apartments. He had used a false name, Fahd bin Mohammad Al-Rajhi, and signed contracts with them.

They said the man had met with them, offered them coffee and taken them on a tour of the building, according to a report in a local publication on Wednesday. He later disappeared with their money, they said.

Mashhour bin Salem, one of the victims, said he had paid SR22,000 for the lease. A Jordanian citizen said he paid SR33,000. A citizen said a Saudi woman was told by the man that he would reduce her rent because her husband was from the neighborhood, so agreed to take a reduced amount of SR17,000.

A Syrian national, Monther Jawad, said he came from Al-Ahsa with his pregnant wife and paid SR14,000 in advance. He said his apartment was opened without his knowledge and re-rented.

The owner of the building, Fahd Al-Mezyani, who lives in Riyadh, said he bought the building last Ramadan. “The man who disappeared came to our office and asked to rent the entire building but did not return after we made him an offer.”