The Fulton County Sheriff's Office wants to make residents aware of a rental scam that has recently been circulating on social media.
Scammers are posting homes for rent that they do not own and have no legal authority to rent. The properties may appear legitimate, often using photos and information copied from real real estate listings.
When interested renters contact the "landlord," they are told they must pay an application fee or holding fee—often in the form of a gift card, prepaid debit card, or other difficult-to-trace payment method. Once the payment is sent, the scammer disappears, and the home is never available to rent.
Be suspicious of rental prices that seem too good to be true.
Verify that the person advertising the property actually owns or manages it.
Never rent a property without seeing it in person or through a verified property management company.
Never pay an application fee or deposit using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other non-traceable payment methods. Legitimate landlords will not request payment this way.
If the person pressures you to send money immediately or claims they're unable to meet because they're "out of town," it's likely a scam.
Research the property's address online to see if it is listed for sale or by another rental company.
If you believe you've encountered a fraudulent rental listing, do not send any money. Report the listing to the social media platform.
If you have any questions or believe you may have been targeted by this scam, please contact the Fulton County Sheriff's Office or your local law enforcement agency.
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