Sheriff’s Office Warns of Real Estate Scam

AMITE (September 21, 2026)- The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) has recently received reports about a scam involving fraudulent house rental publications.

Detectives say the scammers are stealing images of homes legitimately for sale, then fraudulently listing them on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok as properties available for rent at rates far lower than others of similar size in the same area.

The scammers ask for a deposit to conduct background checks and then disappear. They are using non-local phone numbers and accounts that resemble legitimate out-of-state real estate companies.

The TPSO is offering the following tips to avoid falling for this scam:

• DO NOT send money before:
   
  • Double-checking the property’s status via a secondary online search
   
  • Meeting the landlord or agent at the property for a walk through/viewing
   
  • Verifying the person who posted the listing is the actual listing agent
• Contact the Assessor's Office to confirm the owner of the property

If you come across a fraudulent listing like this, or find that your home is being fraudulently listed, please file a report with our Criminal Investigations Division at 985-902-2088.

TPSO Public Information Office, pio@tpso.org

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