Detectives on trail of bogus landlord

This is the man Fadi Alhaddadin says posed as a landlord. Photo / Supplied

Police investigating a property-fraud ring have released an image of a man they are seeking.

Detectives from the Auckland financial crime unit want help from members of the public to identify an Asian man filmed by Fadi Alhaddadin, who met him when he went to view a Nelson St apartment about a month ago.

Mr Alhaddadin says the man was pretending to be the landlord.

He gave him $1480 (four weeks' rent as a bond) to secure the apartment.

But when he went to meet the man at the apartment as planned on May 16, expecting to be given a key, no one showed up.

Mr Alhaddadin then went to an address the man said he lived at and found that it, too, was false and that the man had allegedly conned at least two other people.

Mr Alhaddadin is believed to be the 18th victim.

When he viewed the property, he recorded a video to show a friend and managed to get a clear picture of the man.

Property managers in downtown Auckland have been contacted by other victims who say they are aware of at least three different descriptions of two men and one woman who are acting as landlords. Police are investigating several complaints.

A second man believed to be involved is described as Asian, aged 25 to 35, of chubby build with a round face and severe acne. He has braces on his teeth and wears glasses.

Anyone with information about these men should phone Detective Constable Libby Willis, (09) 302-6965.