Belleville Police say multiple people in the city have fallen victim to an ongoing rental scam.
Those victims ended up out between $150 and $4000 after responding to ads for rental properties that aren’t actually owned, or managed, by the people who posted them.
Investigators say the fraudsters will use fake backstories and cell phone numbers in the ads, before asking for a deposit and promise a tour of the property once the money is handed over.
The problem is, they don’t actually own the properties and victims aren’t able to get the money back.
Police say anyone who is responding to an online rental ad should meet with the property owner or manager in person, to confirm the legitimacy of the ad, before any money changes hands.
