The Lincoln City Police Department has received multiple reports from citizens seeking rental property through individual parties over social media platforms which have turned out to be online frauds. In this particular fraud, individuals are told to submit an application through email to a person who then advises the applicant is accepted. The contacts, who often have poor English language abilities when spoken to over the phone, request payment through Peer-To-Peer payment applications such as (Venmo/PayPal/etc) and advise they will send the applicant the keys to the residence. The applicant will then eventually learn that they have been scammed with little hope of recouping their losses or identifying the suspect. Renters are encouraged to utilize reputable property agencies and never to send money sight-unseen for property. If you feel you have been a victim of such a scam please report the incident to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, located at https://www.ic3.gov/.
Comments