Hall County Sheriff's officials are warning the public of rental and real estate scams that are popping up as the coronavirus pandemic hinders the housing market.
A post on the Sheriff's Office Facebook page details some of the general points in the five recent calls they've received about real estate rental scams.
The key factor, the agency said, is that after corresponding with the landlord or property manager, that person will request the renter send a deposit via CashApp or another money transfer app. Then, the landlord will send the keys via mail, and send a fake tracking number.
Eventually, the agency said in the post that the renters-to-be learn the property wasn't even available to rent in the first place.
The pandemic has created a boost in online shopping, and that includes looking for places to live. The Sheriff's Office said while each scam they've encountered in different, the gist remains the same: someone that is not in the area or physically meeting with a renter requests a deposit through an app and then takes off.
The Sheriff's Office encourages citizens to be smart when sending or transferring money to other individuals, especially in a time when social distancing means getting creative with transactions. The agency recommended the tips on this renter's website for additional help.
