A recent scam involving real estate and homes for rent has made its way into Marion County.

The scam involves individuals stealing pictures of homes for sale from reputable real estate agents and websites and posting them online as homes for rent. A person seeking a home for rent contacts the scammer and is told to pay the first months rent and deposit and the scammer will send the contract in the mail because they need to leave the area or are unable to meet the interested person. Marion County Attorney Ed Bull tells KNIA/KRLS News if it seems too good to be true, If you’re renting a home you haven’t set foot in, if you don’t meet with the person selling it, or if they want to close quickly on the deal, those should all be red flags that you are being taken advantage of. Bulls says, if you have been a victim or are aware of one of these scams, contact local law enforcement so they can prevent more people from being victimized.