COLDWATER,MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Association of REALTORS® has issued a warning on rental scams. that they say are fraudulent listings appearing on TikTok.
According to the association, scammers are advertising local homes for rent on the social media platform, even though the properties are actually listed for sale or have already been sold.
The scam targets unsuspecting renters by pressuring them to pay upfront fees before viewing the property.
Fraudsters typically demand an initial application fee, promising to send over a formal application once the payment is received. They then escalate their demands by asking for the first month’s rent, a security deposit, or in some instances, both first and last month’s rent.
Once the victim sends the money, the scammers disappear, leaving the renter with no property and stolen funds.
The association is urging the public to thoroughly investigate properties, verify the identity of the person claiming to be the owner or agent, and remain highly cautious of rental prices that seem unusually low or too good to be true.
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