Knoxville Family Scammed Out of $2,000 After Moving into Fake Rental — Evicted After a Week скачать в хорошем качестве

Knoxville Family Scammed Out of $2,000 After Moving into Fake Rental — Evicted After a Week

Two Knoxville families lost $2,000 to a rental scam after a fraudster posing as a landlord used a self-viewing lockbox system to gain illegal access to a property. The scammer posted a stolen listing on Facebook Marketplace, sent fake contracts, collected rent and deposits through Chime, then disappeared — leaving the families homeless days after moving in. This case reveals how scammers exploit self-guided tour systems by creating accounts with fake IDs to obtain lockbox codes, making it nearly impossible to verify legitimacy. Learn the red flags these families missed, including below-market rent, payment through non-traditional apps, and lack of in-person verification. Warning signs: rental sign in yard but no direct contact with realty company, landlord unwilling to meet, and requests to remove signage after payment. Always call the number on the yard sign directly and verify identity before sending money.