LEXINGTON, Neb. — The Lexington Police Department is warning residents about an ongoing rental scam targeting people searching for housing in the area.
According to police, scammers are falsely claiming to own or manage properties in Lexington that are not actually available for rent. Victims are reportedly being asked to send deposits, down payments or application fees through cryptocurrency or peer-to-peer payment platforms including Cash App, Venmo, PayPal and Zelle.
Police say once the payment is sent, victims later discover the property was never for rent and the scammer disappears.
Authorities are urging the public to take precautions before sending money for a rental property. Police recommend verifying ownership of the property and seeing it in person before making any payments.
Investigators also advise residents to be cautious of anyone pressuring them to act quickly or communicating only through text messages or social media.
The department noted that cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer payments can be difficult or impossible to recover once funds are sent.
Police added that if a rental deal seems too good to be true, it likely is.