The Franklin Police Department has issued a warning to the public after reporting three instances of rental scams in the past week. According to the police, the scam typically involves renters finding accommodation on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. However, after paying for the rental, the renters may encounter problems upon arrival.
Max Winitz from the Franklin Police Department explained that many victims don’t realize they’ve been scammed until they arrive at the property and find themselves locked out. “A lot of the victims don’t realize it until they come to the property and they’re locked out,” Winitz said. “That’s when they say to themselves, ‘Oh no, I just paid a ton of money to move into a house that I can’t move into.'”
The scammers often target appealing properties in desirable locations. “Franklin itself is a beautiful, quaint community, and people want to be here, whether that’s short term or long term,” Winitz noted.
However, Winitz also mentioned that there are warning signs to watch out for to avoid falling victim to such scams. One red flag is the lack of direct communication with the seller. “What we’ve noticed is that there is no person-to-person communication with the seller, if you will, and they refuse to speak over the phone with the potential renter,” he said.
To mitigate the risk of being scammed, some renters in Middle Tennessee have taken precautions such as insisting on an in-person tour before committing to any online listings. Additionally, another renter mentioned avoiding the use of social media altogether to search for rental properties.