ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Couple Discovers Bizarre Intentions Behind Facebook Marketplace Rental Scam

The Carrolls were caught off guard when an unauthorized listing of their property emerged on Facebook Marketplace.
PUBLISHED FEB 20, 2024
Cover Image Source: A girl browses the social networking site Facebook | Getty Images | Photo by Chris Jackson
Cover Image Source: A girl browses the social networking site Facebook | Getty Images | Photo by Chris Jackson

In the quaint town of Fayetteville, New York, a seasoned couple, David and Susan Carroll, found themselves ensnared in an unprecedented rental scam, unraveling a web of deception that has left them $2,400 lighter. With a rental history dating back to 2005, the Carrolls were caught off guard when an unauthorized listing of their property emerged on Facebook Marketplace, offering the residence at a fraction of its actual rental value.

Man Scrolling Through Facebook Marketplace (representative image) | Unsplash | Photo by Thought Catalog
User scrolling Facebook Marketplace (representative image) | Unsplash | Photo by Thought Catalog

Reflecting on this baffling situation, Mr. Carroll recounted the unfortunate turn of events, emphasizing that the unsuspecting victims, lured by the fabricated Facebook listing, willingly paid the scammers the substantial sum of $2,400, per 9WSYR. This marked a stark deviation from the couple's extensive experience in property rentals, introducing a disconcerting element that challenged their confidence in the seemingly secure realm of real estate transactions. The perplexing saga took an unexpected turn when, merely a week later, another individual narrowly avoided falling prey to the same fraudulent scheme. A Facebook listing for the identical property raised red flags for the Carrolls, prompting them to delve into an investigative quest to unravel the machinations behind this duplicitous act.

Facial-recognition technology | Photo by Ian Waldie | Getty Images
Facial-recognition technology | Photo by Ian Waldie | Getty Images

In a bid to unmask the orchestrator of this nefarious plot, the Carrolls embarked on a digital pursuit, tracking down the individual responsible for the deceptive Facebook Marketplace listing. To their bewilderment, the person behind the scam was revealed to harbor a bizarre intention—to rent the Carrolls their own house. This revelation added a surreal twist to an already confounding narrative, leaving the couple grappling with the absurdity of the situation.

Adding to the ironic nature of the scam, the scammer had employed a photograph of a reputable realtor based in Florida, a figure who had previously spoken out against such fraudulent activities. In a twist of fate, the very image used by the scammer to perpetrate the deception turned out to be that of a legitimate real estate professional with a credible standing in the Jacksonville area. This discovery added a layer of complexity to the narrative, blurring the lines between reality and deception.

Facebook Marketplace scams people lossing dollars everyday | (representative image) | Pexels | Photo by Tobias Dziuba
Facebook Marketplace scams | (representative image) | Pexels | Photo by Tobias Dziuba

While the victims retain a glimmer of hope to recover their lost funds, the harsh reality of the situation was elucidated by the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office. According to Peter Hakes, the senior assistant district attorney, the process of retrieving the funds is an arduous and protracted one. Expressing a commitment to justice, Hakes emphasized the necessity of identifying and holding the perpetrators accountable, acknowledging that the chances of success diminish as time elapses and the ill-gotten funds vanish into the abyss of digital transactions.

The Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, thrust into action by this alarming case, is now diligently investigating this incident, which joins a growing list of similar scams. The complexity of such cases underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in tracing and prosecuting individuals engaged in online fraud. As the Carrolls grapple with the aftermath of this strange experience, they have taken proactive measures to safeguard potential renters. Employing a preventive strategy, they have begun watermarking images of their properties, a visual cue intended to signal the legitimacy of their advertisements and protect prospective tenants from falling victim to deceptive schemes.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
After the contestant, Drew Carey broke the board further while trying to fix it...
15 hours ago
As it so turned out, a crucial ruling from the judges led to a BIG win for the player.
17 hours ago
When a guest brought a precious Charles Rohlfs chair, expert John Sollo confessed that he was nervous to appraise it.
19 hours ago
The guest had no idea about the item being a Tiffany product and being embedded with a rare gem.
1 day ago
The host was baffled by the goof up that the contestant made between two words.
1 day ago
Carey showed that he has got the weapon of sarcasm, and he isn't afraid to use it.
1 day ago
Whatever the host was expecting, it was far away from what the contestant said on national TV.
1 day ago
The guest was surprised to learn more about the item he had actually found on the street for free.
1 day ago
After going through everything on the board, the player left Harvey in hysterics with his answer.
2 days ago
As it so turned out, the weird-looking floor lamp was a piece from a very famous studio.
2 days ago
Most contestants were consistently getting the answers wrong, and Harvey was worried about what was next.
3 days ago
Some claimed that they got the puzzle despite English being their second language.
3 days ago
The letter was written to a columnist in response to a piece taking a swipe at Sinatra.
3 days ago
In a special episode of Celebrity Family Feud, a WWE star decided to go for the one thing Harvey is known for.
3 days ago
Luck was shining for her as she was off to a flying start and won the car with a single card.
3 days ago
Sajak had a witty reply for the contestant who was fanboying over White during the game.
6 days ago
The model said that considering White's age she would also take the offer from Sony.
6 days ago
Sheila won a brand new entertainment unit, complete with an HD plasma TV and mini bar from Howard Miller.
7 days ago
The appraiser disclosed that Yoakum began painting in the 1960s and he created one unique piece of art every single day.
7 days ago
The entrepreneur also managed to get the sharks to taste the vegan alternative meant for pets.
7 days ago