DARLINGTON, SC (WBTW) – The Darlington County Sheriff’s Office is warning community members of a real estate scam targeting residents in the county.
Lt. Robby Kilgo with the sheriff’s office says Darlington County deputies have received reports of a scam involving fake rental house advertisements placed online. Advertisements for rental houses have been located on the website HousesForRent.ws that were not placed there by the property owner or manager, confirms Lt. Kilgo.
Victims have contacted the poster of the fake advertisements through the website. The poster of the advertisement will instruct the victim to go to a local retail store to place a deposit and the first month’s rent on a pre-paid card. The person will then get the pre-paid card information from the victim.
The sheriff’s office encourages anyone looking to rent a property to meet with an owner or property manager in person, view the property and request a lease before agreeing to any payment.
