A number of Queenslanders have been scammed on-line of their seek for a rental property, dropping hundreds of dollars of their seek for a house.
Actual property brokers have confirmed scams focusing on renters are on the rise, with some scammers focusing on a number of victims with a single put up.
Single mum Marie-Claire Lord is the most recent of a number of Queenslanders conned out of their financial savings after making use of for a house on Fb.
After reaching out to a girl going by the identify Regina, she misplaced $2000 on what she thought was her future dwelling on the Gold Coast.
After transferring the cash for the Pimpama property's bond, she stated the web advert disappeared.
"It makes me sick with anxiousness that this has occurred," Lord stated.
"I used to be keen to pay as much as months six months hire up-front.
"That was $14,000."
Scams to be careful for
Emma Snowdon from Wings Actual Property, who manages the actual Pimpama property, stated 10 individuals had fallen sufferer to the identical rip-off.
"By no means have I seen something like this," she stated.
"I've simply advised individuals you must report it to the authorities as a result of it is out of our management which is absolutely unlucky."
Police are urging individuals to do their analysis and all the time examine the property earlier than sending any cash.
Renters have been advised to cross-check properties from respected web sites to see if adverts have been copied from one other web site.
Those that suppose they have been scammed ought to contact their financial institution instantly to attempt to block the transaction.
Federal cyber-crime investigators are wanting into the rip-off.
"My recommendation is unquestionably if it feels too good to be true, it usually is," Lord stated.