Add “rent a house” to the list of things you shouldn’t use Facebook Marketplace for. John Swartz and his girlfriend got scammed out of $2,500 while looking for a rental home in Clearwater, Florida. They saw a house on Facebook Marketplace for $1,600 a month, which seemed like a great deal for them and their two dogs. A man told them to pay upfront via Zelle for the first and last month’s rent plus a deposit to get approval from the homeowner association.
The next day, when they went to get the keys, neighbors said it was a con. The real owner had the place listed for $2,300 on another site. Swartz tried to stop the payment through his bank, but the bank told them that the payment being sent through Zelle they couldn’t do anything about it. Swartz told police about it, but he doubts he’ll see the money again. Now, they’re warning others not to send cash until they tour the inside and meet someone with a key.
Source: WFLA
