Description :

Zach Evans moved into the multi-unit house in Niagara Falls that I also lived in. I'd pass him in the driveway here and there. But mainly kept to myself. I was friends with the landlord, who was a really kind and generous man. His name was Alex. Alex always saw the best in people. I asked about the new tenant, Alex told me he was a 2nd year med student from the UK, taking a year off his studies to explore Canada. Everything seemed normal, eventually Zach became friends with Alex. I always had a strange feeling about the UK lad, but when I brought it up to Alex, he mentioned the only strange thing was how Zach would have paid rent in slightly odd ways (partially in cash, partially by card, etc.), but always managed to get it sorted by the 4th or 5th of the month. Always commenting how nice Zach was. Zach gained Alex's trust over 8 months, paying his rent, offering to help him around the property, etc. Then the game started. He slowly began to gain entry to Alex's digital infrastructure. Frequently using Alex's computer, or updating various systems Alex had in place for the 2 units that were on Airbnb, and not occupied by long-term tenants. He promised Alex he'd increase his business' operating income, establish automations to ease Alex's workload, etc. I warned Alex to tread carefully.

I always had a bad gut feeling about Zach, and when I saw how trusting Alex was being, and how much access he'd given Zach, I got a bit scared. I brought it up several times, I even tried to corner Zach once expressing my skepticism. He broke down in a puddle of tears and said he was having an "anxiety attack" at such an "accusation". The short of it is, Zach routed money from Airbnb payments, and other listing systems, into his own accounts. He also didn't pay rent for over 5 months as Alex was taking his "help" as payment. By the time Alex noticed, the accused disappeared from Niagara Falls, back to the UK. Alex did all that he could to reason with Zach, asking him for passwords and access to the website, and system he had built at the property. He asked for access to his funds, to the bitter end, thinking it was just a matter of a guy being in-over-his-head, and not having ill-intentions. But then came the final blow, after months of back-and-forth with companies like Airwallex, Payoneer, Vault.com, etc...Alex saw the proof in black and white. Money being transferred into the account that was associated with the business, and getting paid out to one Zach J Evans. Zach maintained there had just been an "innocent mix-up", his posh accent and friendly tone could fool one of the brightest and most beautiful souls I ever met. Unfortunately, Alex was already barely making ends meet. He worked two jobs, on top of running the property by himself to try and stay afloat. He came from extreme poverty, and had nothing growing up. Definitely not a trust fund baby, no silver platter, etc.

Which makes the end of this story so sad, and many of you will already know where it's heading. When Alex got the proof, he tried to go to the Police. For seven days, the Police called back, saying they didn't have the staff to dispatch an officer to file a report. When the police finally did "have an officer available", it was some road cop with no aspirations or hopes of moving up in their career. The case went absolutely nowhere. Alex tried reasoning with the billing companies he owed money to, and the private lenders his mortgage was with. But the financial pressure became too great, and the private lenders filed a power of sale motion. Alex spiraled into a dark place. He wasn't a drug user, and didn't even drink alcohol. But he didn't have any family, he kept to himself, and just worked. He told me he was devasted he'd cost me and his other tenants their living space because of his poor choice in who he trusted. All the work he'd put in, with the loss he suffered, it all came crashing down, and I guess he couldn't handle the pressure. He made an irreversible and unfortunate choice, and out of respect to him and his few friends, I won't type the details in black and white. I went to visit him again in the hospital yesterday, he's breathing through a tube, he'll likely stay comatic for some more months...it's not looking great. This is the side of these scams and cons that isn't talked about enough. The money sucks, but money can always be made. The mental health, the stress, the hours lost to these crimes. That's the side that I wish had more of a spotlight. It's not the money that destroyed Alex's will to keep going, it was believing he had made a new friend, a new partner to build his small enterprise with... when in fact he was getting gamed by a scummy and evil pariah. Zach James Evans is the most dangerous, sophisticated, and clever sociopath I've ever met. If you or anyone you know EVER comes in contact with this psycho, just walk in the opposite direction, and check you still have your wallet, keys and phone on you. He's approximately 5'7", shaggy bleach blonde hair, fairly stout, obese, and wears glasses. Some facial acne. He said he was from Whales, but speaks with a more general Queen's English sounding dialect. He's very computer savy, and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a wifi router, let alone a keyboard.