What should I do if a scammer uses my listing to create a fraudulent rental ad?
Below are steps to remedy the situation. This may seem like a lengthy list, but many of the steps are quick and easy online actions. • First and foremost, file a non-emergency incident report with the County Sheriff where the home is located.
• Make a copy of the ad, notify the site(s) that the ad is fraudulent, and request that it be removed immediately. (Note: These ads most often appear on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, but have also been discovered on Apartments.com, Hotpads, and Zillow.)
• Submit an online complaint to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Submit an online complaint to the FTC.
• The GRAR REALTOR Store carries sign riders that help clarify that a property is only available for sale, not for rent. These signs help deter foot traffic (some interested renters are bold and will look in windows). If you are unable to visit the REALTOR Store, placing a NOT AVAILABLE FOR RENT sign in the front window will help too.
• Amend the listing’s public Marketing Remarks on the MLS to indicate that the property is available for sale only (not for rent). The scammers scrape the marketing remarks, but often don’t take the time to read them. Interested renters surely will though!
• If the property is occupied, notify the residents that there may be foot traffic as a result of the ad.
• If the property has a pending sale, notify the cooperating broker of the steps that are being taken to remedy the situation.
Going forward:
• Set up a Google Alert for each listed property address. Google will then send you an email and a link if that address hits the web. It isn’t effective in all cases, but it can be a useful tool to alert REALTORS early on as to where their listed properties are posted online. It is also a good idea to set up a Google Alert for your own name so that you may monitor online reviews.
• Include a statement in the public Marketing Remarks for all new listings that the property is offered only for sale, not for rent. The scammers who copy and paste listing comments often don’t take the time to read them, but interested renters will surely read those comments.
• GRAR regularly posts cautionary notices on Craigslist re: the ongoing rental scams. If you would locate and share those notices via your social media accounts, we would truly appreciate your help in spreading the word.