Local law enforcement warn of new scam
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IDAHO FALLS — The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a new scam: real estate.
“Our Deputies receive reports of a wide variety of scams throughout the year. Most are related to phone, text or email scams claiming you have warrants, missed jury duty or have a tax issue,” Lt. Bryan Lovell, spokesman for the Bonneville Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
A scam law enforcement has been seeing lately is real estate listings or rental properties. These can be posted on social media or on the internet in general, according to the news release.
“In this scam someone’s identity is assumed, or ownership of property is assumed, with the goal of getting the victim to pay a deposit or downpayment on a listing,” Lovell explained in the release.
Victims don’t discover the property isn’t for sale or rent until they try or move in or complete titling paperwork.
Law enforcement gives these recommendations:
1. Be suspicious of listings on the internet or social media. Do some research to make sure it’s a legitimate listing, realtor or property agency.
2. Make sure the property listed is an actual property that is actually for sale or rent.
“It’s difficult to keep up with these scams and tomorrow something new will take the place of what we are seeing today,” Lovell stated.
The public is encouraged to continue reporting suspicious activity, monitoring their credit and financial accounts and change passwords often. Especially if something suspicious has happened.
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