T
he Cayuga County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a surge in rental property and real estate scams affecting the local community. Scammers are using stolen photos of properties and fake identities to target potential renters and homebuyers, according to Matt Chalanick of The Real Estate Agency in Auburn.

    One common scam involves scammers posting legitimate property listings on rental websites and then claiming they can only communicate via email due to being deaf or too busy. They instruct victims to view the property from outside but not enter, and if interested, send a deposit or sign a lease. By the time the victim realizes the property wasn't available, their payment has already been cashed.

    Chalanick also reported a recent incident where a scammer posed as a property owner using a fake email address, requesting a market analysis and listing agreement for a Cayuga County property. However, further investigation revealed they didn't own the property and were attempting to set up a scam.

    The Sheriff's Office advises residents to exercise caution when renting or buying property, verifying who they're dealing with before sending any payments. For more information, follow the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office on Facebook for updates.