07/31/2026
Heads up, West Tennessee.
We've had a rise in reports of scammers stealing real listing photos, from us and from other legitimate sources, and reposting them on Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms as fake "for rent" ads. The home isn't actually for rent. The person messaging you isn't a landlord, an agent, or anyone connected to the property. They're after your money, your credit card number, or your debit card info, and once they have it, they disappear.
It's an old scam, but it still works because it's built to feel urgent and legitimate.
Here's how to protect yourself:
Never send money, a deposit, or card information to "hold" a property before you've toured it in person and met the actual owner or listing agent.
If the price looks too good to be true for the area, it probably is. Scammers underprice on purpose to get you moving fast.
Verify the owner or listing agent. A real REALTOR® will have a license, a brokerage, and a name you can look up. If someone won't give you that, or won't meet in person, walk away.
Search the photos. Stolen images often show up on other legitimate listing sites like Realtor.com, or the brokerage's own website. If you find the same photos tied to a listing, that's your answer.
Reverse pressure is a red flag. "I have three other people interested, send the deposit today" is a script, not a real situation.
If you come across one of these fake posts, whether it's using a CWTAR member's listing or not, report it directly to the platform and, your local police department's cybercrimes division.
No matter how convincing the message looks, a legitimate rental transaction never starts with a wire transfer, a gift card, or your card number over Messenger. Protect yourself, and protect your neighbors by sharing this post.
