The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a scam involving fraudulent rental property listings on social media.
Detectives said scammers are stealing pictures of homes that are actually for sale and listing them online as rental properties through Facebook and TikTok.
The sheriff’s office said the scammers request deposits to conduct background checks and then disappear.
The scammers are reportedly using non-local phone numbers and accounts that resemble legitimate real estate companies, according to the sheriff’s office.
To avoid the scam, the sheriff’s office advises residents to never send money before double-checking the property’s status online, meeting the landlord or agent at the property, and verifying that the person who posted the listing is an actual listing agent.
The sheriff’s office also said residents can contact the assessor’s office to confirm the owner of the property.
Anyone who comes across a fraudulent listing should report it to the sheriff’s office.
READ MORE:What you need to know about a rental property scam circulating in Tangipahoa Parish
