CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A public service announcement warning residents of a concerning surge in rental scams-- targeting unsuspecting individuals was posted on the Clayton County Police Department Facebook page, where perpetrators pose as property owners on social media apps.
Realtor Whitney Hannah shared a horror story from one of her clients who had just moved into a new place. She said some have called her in tears.
"Not even three or four days later, the actual owner came in with the sheriff and said, 'No, no, no, you got scammed,'" Hannah said.
The department said the complaints keep pouring in. Major Frank Thomas with criminal investigations said they've received four reports just last week alone.
"They're being presented with a fraudulent rental contract, giving keys to the property," Thomas added. "They'll replace the locks. So, then, it looks like they have a legitimate set of keys to the home... Usually, a short time later, find out that it was all a scam."
Scammers use ads on popular platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, offering to rent out vacant properties.
However, these properties are legally owned by unrelated parties who have no association with the scammers. The unsuspecting renters are then presented with counterfeit lease agreements and manipulated into providing cash deposits for properties they were never authorized to lease.
And if it happens to you, you've got to go.
"There's another company that actually runs the property," Thomas said, "And when they show up to rent it out, there's somebody living in it. And they get evicted right there."
Clayton County Police also shared an image outlining "5 Signs of a Rental Scam." The signs include warnings about rental pictures that seem too good to be true, rental listings with errors or inconsistencies, pressure to lease a property immediately without viewing it first, requests for upfront payments, and the absence of credit checks. These red flags should serve as indicators of possible fraudulent activities when searching for rental properties.
Thomas also suggested renters look up the address using a search engine to see if the property or unit is listed somewhere else or for a different price, and take photos of the seller and/or their car (a legit realtor should have no issue with this), don't pay with cash (as it isn't traceable), and avoid deals via social media.
Hannah added to look up your realtor on the Georgia Real Estate Commission's website to verify that they are legit.
"The cost of living has gone up," Hannah said. "And scammers, with Georgia being the 'it place' now— one of the states to move to— and they're just getting the people that are looking for cheaper rent."
This isn't the first time such scams have come to light in the greater Atlanta area. 11Alive brought viewers a similar story in March that happened in Cobb County.
A man named Eric Francisco discovered that his newly occupied house was falsely advertised as available for rent. After receiving inquiries from interested individuals who saw the ad on Facebook Marketplace, Francisco realized that someone had taken a picture of his house and created a fraudulent listing without his knowledge or consent.
In light of these incidents and the distress they cause to both homeowners and potential renters, authorities urge individuals to remain vigilant during their property search.
Thomas said it's tough to hunt down these scammers because they hide behind a fake identity.
Prospective tenants are strongly advised to verify the legitimacy of rental listings, thoroughly inspect properties before making any commitments, and refrain from making upfront payments without proper documentation and confirmation of ownership.
Both Hannah and Thomas agree that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.