Friendswood police have issued a warning to residents, advising them to refrain from renting homes through social media platforms. This caution comes after the discovery of two instances where potential renters were deceived.
In both cases, potential renters discovered homes on Facebook Marketplace, paid deposits, and later realized that the homes they believed they had rented were never actually available. Investigators have reported these incidents.
A woman arrived at the 700 block of Juliabora Court with rental documents and attempted to gain access to a home that was up for sale. Realizing that she was unable to enter the property, she promptly contacted the Friendswood Police Department for assistance.
Don Davila, a long-time resident of the cul-de-sac for over 30 years, remembered how the patrolman approached him and inquired about the owner of the house.
The woman believed she had rented the house, as she had paid a deposit and received paperwork, but it is actually up for sale.
According to Taylor McCombs, a spokesperson for Friendswood Police, the woman contacted the police to report that she had paid a deposit but had not received it back. She was advised to change the locks in the house and she followed through with that. She even took down the For Sale signs from the yard. However, when she returned to the residence, she discovered that she had fallen victim to a scam.
According to the Friendswood police, the chain of events began just a mile away from the initial incident. The police reported that the first house available for rent was located in the 1500 block of Regency Court.
The woman reached out on Facebook to inquire about the availability of the item. Surprisingly, the suspects claimed that it was no longer available and directed her to another residence on Juliabora Court.
The houses are owned by two separate companies that have no connection to the suspects whatsoever.
Davila remembered how the woman had multiple papers that she showed to the policemen. He mentioned that the policemen empathized with her and felt sorry for her situation.
The Friendswood police are currently conducting an investigation into this case, as well as another rental case, to determine if there is any connection between the two. They also have a cautionary message for individuals in search of a new home.
According to McCombs, it is advisable to steer clear of social media and instead meet the person in person. He suggests reaching out to people you know to verify their authenticity and then following up with them.
