(TNS)–Two TikTok users shared posts about a Connecticut property for rent in July — but the property was never available to rent.
The property, a three-bedroom home in Harwinton, originally was listed for sale for $599,000 by Hartford County-based Realtor Geena Becker. But on TikTok, the same property was advertised as a rental for $1,400 monthly with utilities included.
Becker said she found out about the fraudulent social media advertisements when a woman messaged her about renting the property located at 43 Millbrook Lane in Harwinton.
“She said, ‘This home is posted for rent,’ and I’m like, ‘What?'” Becker said. “I said, ‘No, it is not for rent, it is only for sale, and as a matter of fact, it’s under deposit right now.’ She was smart enough to look it up first and contact me.”
Becker said the prospective renter that contacted her said she “knew it was weird” because the advertisement said the property was worth $1,400 a month.
“This house would have been $4,500 to $5,000 a month if it was for rent,” Becker said. “That’s a red flag number one, they undervalue.”
The prospective renter sent Becker the TikTok post that showed photos of the property, the price and a phone number for viewers to contact. Becker said she found two TikTok posts of the Harwinton property shared by separate users, but both posts said the property was a rental worth $1,400 monthly.
“They stole every photo off of my site, every single one,” she said. “They used it like it’s theirs.”
Becker reported both TikTok accounts to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and said she was the “only person authorized to have anything happen to this property.” She said she had not heard from the FBI yet, but provided information about both posts.
The Hartford County Realtor said those looking to rent should be wary of scammers telling potential buyers to drive by the property and look in the property’s windows because the homeowner or landlord is not home.
Becker also said scammers will ask buyers to send in an application first with a deposit, which she said is an “off the charts major red flag.”
“Before you even see a lease or see the house, they want money?” Becker said. “Apparently it happens a lot, and I was shocked.”
In addition to TikTok, Becker said real estate scammers also use Facebook Marketplace to advertise properties.
Becker advised prospective renters or buyers to make calls to the real estate agent before they make any payments.
“Just make the phone call, check it out first somehow,” Becker said. “I even put in my post, I said, ‘Call me first, and let me check and see if it’s up for rent.’ Make the call. It’s one phone call.”
Becker also said those who own a house or piece of land should go into Zillow and claim their properties, so that if the property ever goes on the market they will be notified.
As of Wednesday, only one of the TikTok posts advertising the Harwinton property was still up on the video platform. Becker said the property is closing in early September for around $600,000.
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