04/22/2023
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‼️ SCAM ALERT ‼️
We just want to take the time to let everyone know of a SCAM that has recently been circulating in the community. Deputies have received several calls regarding Real Estate SCAMS.
The SCAM goes like this:
A victim sees a rental property on a social media site such as Facebook and inquires about it.
The scammer provides the victim with a code to the property to go check it out. If/when the purchaser notifies the “seller” they are interested, the scammer requests a deposit and then disappears. Most of the properties in question are owned by corporations, and often times the scammer will “hijack” the rental ads online and change the contact information to their own, making it appear legit.
Some simple things to look out for:
If the seller asks you to wire the money or if they seek a security deposit on the first month’s rent before you have met or signed a lease, this is a huge red flag. Don’t do it!
Another thing to be wary of is if they say they are out of the country and can not meet.
Do your due diligence in your searches, and if your intuition tells you it might not be legit, that’s probably a sign that it’s a SCAM.
