TikTok Rental Scams Are on the Rise: Here’s How to Protect Yourself!

If you’ve been searching for homes online lately, please take a moment to read this.

Recently, one of my listings on Centennial Street South in Wishek was taken by a scammer. They copied my listing photos and property information and reposted the home on TikTok, falsely advertising it as a rental property.

I immediately reported the fraudulent listing, but unfortunately these scams are becoming increasingly common—not just in our area, but across the country.

The scammers’ goal is simple: convince someone to send them money before they realize the property was never available for rent in the first place.

How These Scams Usually Work

Most rental scammers follow the same pattern:

 ● They steal photos from a legitimate real estate listing.

 ● They advertise the property at a rent that seems almost too good to be true.

 ● They claim they are out of town, overseas, or otherwise unavailable to meet in person.

 ● They pressure interested renters to send a security deposit or first month’s rent immediately.

 ● Once the money is sent, the scammer disappears.

Red Flags Everyone Should Watch For

If you’re looking for a home to rent or buy, these warning signs should make you stop and investigate:

The price seems unusually low.

Scammers know that a bargain attracts attention. If the monthly rent is far below what similar homes are renting for, be cautious.

They refuse to meet in person.

A legitimate property owner or property manager should be able to arrange a showing or have someone local do so.

They ask for money before you’ve seen the property.

Never send deposits, application fees, gift cards, cryptocurrency, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or wire transfers before verifying the property and the person you’re dealing with.

Communication feels rushed.

Scammers often try to create urgency by saying there are many interested renters or that you must act today.

The photos look professional.

Ironically, professional-looking photos can actually be a warning sign because scammers frequently steal them directly from real estate listings.

How to Protect Yourself

Before sending any money:

 ● Verify who actually owns or represents the property.

 ● Search the property’s address online to see if it is listed for sale with a licensed real estate broker.

 ● Contact the listing brokerage directly using the phone number from its official website—not the number in the suspicious TikTok post.

 ● Ask to see the property in person.

 ● Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.

If You See One of These Scams

Please report the listing to TikTok immediately. The sooner these fraudulent posts are reported, the faster they can be removed and the fewer people will become victims.

If the property is listed by a local real estate company, contact the listing broker as well. We want to know when our listings are being misused so we can report them and help protect our community.

My Commitment to You

At Northern Elements Real Estate, protecting buyers, sellers, and our community is just as important as helping people buy and sell homes.

If you ever have questions about whether a property listing is legitimate, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d much rather spend a few minutes helping you verify a listing than see someone lose their hard-earned money to a scam.

As these scams continue to grow, staying informed is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family.

Stay safe, verify before you pay, and when in doubt, ask.

Denise Rohweder

Broker/Owner

Northern Elements Real Estate