Blaine renters are getting burned by slick Facebook Marketplace scammers who clone real home listings, then push would-be tenants to send deposits through apps like Zelle and Venmo. Blaine police say victims often end up out hundreds or thousands of dollars, with no lease, no keys, and nowhere to go. In response, investigators have started posting informational bulletins on targeted homes to warn neighbors and anyone who shows up for a “tour” that the online ad is a fake.
According to the Blaine Police Department, the scheme starts with scammers lifting photos and addresses from legitimate real estate or rental sites. They repost those listings on Facebook Marketplace at a price that looks too good to be true, then pressure interested renters to send money before any in-person meeting or verification. Police say the scammers sometimes email a bogus rental agreement to make it feel official, then vanish as soon as the payment goes through…