Yuma renters and buyers warned about online listing scams
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – If you’re in the market for a new place to call home, it’s important to be aware of online listing scams targeting new renters and buyers.
Scammers are advertising properties they do not own or have permission to rent. They copy legitimate listings, then repost them at a lower price to pressure potential renters or buyers into acting quickly.
Local realtor Matias Rosales knows this scam all too well after one of his own listings was copied and reposted by a fraudster.
Rosales said, “This past week, I had a listing where two people called me and said, ‘Hey, I see your sign. You’re advertising it for a lower amount on Facebook,’ and I said, ‘Well, that’s not us.’ So we tell people to report it to Facebook as a fraud post, and hopefully Facebook or Meta will remove it.”
The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is warning residents not to send any money until a listing has been verified.
If you believe a listing is a scam, you can report it to YPD or any local law enforcement agency.
Officer Hayato Johnson of YPD said, “Also, if you’re looking for properties, verify that they’re for rent before you start doing any paperwork, handing over personal information, or even sending money.”
We also spoke with investigative reporter John Summer, who specializes in real estate fraud and home title theft. He says anyone who owns property is a target of this scam.
Summer said, “No one is not vulnerable to this. It can be a home, a piece of property, open land, someone’s Airbnb, or a property they’re not watching, like their grandmother’s home. Everyone, anywhere, can be a victim.”
Property owners can take extra steps to protect their home titles, including using a monitoring service that alerts them to suspicious activity, like Home Title Lock.
If you come across a listing that appears to be fake, report it immediately and watch for red flags before sending any money or personal information.
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