Nampa, ID (CBS2) — Rental hunters are being warned about a renewed wave of scams on Facebook Marketplace in which would-be landlords or property managers demand money upfront just to show a property, then never show up or stop responding after they get paid.
The scam is not new, but there has been a recent uptick in reports of listings that ask prospective renters to send payment before a showing. In many cases, the payment is requested in gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash sent through electronic transfer services such as Zelle, Chime, or PayPal.
Consumer advocates say a key red flag is being charged simply to view a rental. Application fees can be an industry standard, but a fee to see a property is a warning sign that the listing may be fraudulent…