Rental Scams

The Oakdale Police Department is seeing an increase in reports related to rental scams targeting prospective renters.

In many of these cases, individuals are finding rental listings on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace.  Communication with the supposed landlord or property manager is conducted entirely online or electronically.  Victims are then instructed to submit payment – often a down payment and first month’s rent – and then granted access to the property through apps such as OpenDoor.

Unfortunately, victims later discovered that after they had moved into the property, the rental process they encountered was indeed fraudulent.  By that time, the money paid often becomes unrecoverable.  

While these situations and advertisements may appear convenient or appealing, many of these offers are too good to be true.

We strongly recommend the following:

• Work with an established and reputable property management company.
• Verify the rental authority of the property by looking up the rental company’s website.
• Meet in person whenever possible before providing any payment.
• Never rush into financial decisions based solely on online communication.
• Do your homework!

Always err on the side of caution and conduct your due diligence when making financial transactions through Facebook Marketplace or any third-party advertising platform.

If you believe you are a victim of scam, please contact the Oakdale Police Department immediately by calling 9-1-1.