Huntingdon, Tenn.—The Huntingdon Police is warning of a real estate scam that is ongoing in the area.
Director of Public Safety Smothers said, “A young couple searching online for a home to rent in the Jackson area made contact with a man who had posted a house for rent. He included pictures from the inside of the house. It may have been in real estate at some prior time and he saved the pictures, we’re not certain how he obtained the pictures. Upon contacting him they were told that other people were interested in the house and that if they wanted it that they had to wire $500 to his bank. Upon receiving the money he contacted them again and said they would also have to put up another $500 as a security deposit. They then discovered that he did not own the home. Further communications with him were unsuccessful.”
Smothers warned, “If you are renting or buying property to ask to go and inspect it yourself before any money is paid.”
Another safeguard is to check public records to see if the person you are dealing with is registered as the owner of the property. Be wary of any person asking you to transfer money to a bank account that is far away, he said.
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