The Round Rock Police Department is alerting the community to a recent surge in rental scams.

Over the past few weeks, detectives have investigated multiple reports of individuals being deceived into paying for rental properties by scammers who have no legal authority to rent them.

These scams typically involve fake rental listings posted on popular housing websites and social media platforms. Victims are often pressured to send money or share personal information quickly to “secure” a property that either does not exist or is being falsely represented.

How to protect yourself:

• Visit the property in person before paying anything.
• Verify the property owner through county records.
• Never send money (Zelle, Venmo, wire, etc.) until you’ve confirmed the rental is legitimate.
• Don’t fall for high-pressure tactics like “act fast or lose it.”
• If the rent looks too good to be true, it probably is.

If you believe you have been the victim of a rental scam, please report it by contacting the Round Rock Police Department at 512-218-5500. Additionally, you can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.