Cortland Police Warn of Rental Scam Happening in Area

The City of Cortland Police Department is warning residents of an ongoing rental scam that is targeting local rentals. According to Cortland Police, their department has now received multiple reports of fraudulent rental listings that are being posted on Facebook and other various websites. 

A recent case Cortland Police are investigating was of a resident being contacted through social media regarding a rental listing in Cortland. The victim in the case was instructed to provide a deposit through Chime, which is a digital banking platform, they were then asked for additional funds via an Apple gift card. Cortland Police say this individual never met the victim in person with all communication only happening through Facebook Messenger. Once the cash was transferred, all contact was stopped by the scammer.

Cortland Police say Chime has been used in two of their recent fraud cases. The department is reminding residents to never send money to anyone you haven’t met or have verified their legitimacy. 

Perspective renters should always view the listed rental property in person and meet with the landlord directly prior to any payments. Residents should use caution with landlords who avoid phone calls and will only communicate through a messaging app. Any suspicious activity should be reported immediately, Cortland Police added.

Anyone who may have been a victim of a rental scam is asked to contact Cortland Police at (607) 753-3001. Police are actively working on identifying the suspects in the case.