ROWLEY — Chief Stephen May reports that the Rowley Police Department has summonsed a man from Tacoma, Wash., with multiple larceny charges following a property scam.
Last month, Rowley Police received reports from a resident who believed they had been the victim of a rental property scam involving a property on Main Street.
Scams of this nature involve a suspect taking pictures of a home from online real estate listings and then posting the same property, claiming it is for rent. The suspect then accepts deposits or several months of rent and, after receiving payment, doesn’t contact the victim again.
In this instance, the victim lost approximately $2,600.
Through an extensive investigation, Rowley Police identified the suspect as a 30-year-old man from Tacoma, Wash.
The 30-year-old man is being summonsed to Newburyport District Court and is being charged with:
- Larceny over $250 from a disabled person
- Larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme
“I would like to recognize Detective Lucas Tubbs, who ran this investigation and was able to locate the scammer,” said Chief May. “We are committed to the safety of our residents, and anyone who believes they have fallen victim to a scam should contact the department.”
Rowley Police would like to share the following safety tips from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on rental scams:
- Research properties before paying anything. Check online reviews and company names.
- Consider the price of the rental. If the price of the rental appears to be too low or too high, this is an indication of a scam. Cross-reference the price with other similar listings.
- Visit the property in person before signing any documents or paying.
- Never give financial or personal information to anyone claiming to know or work for the person who owns the property. Always use the contact information provided by the landlord or owner.
- If you believe that you may be a victim of a scam or if you notice a rental scam online, contact your local police department immediately.
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