I've had the pictures from my zillow ads stolen in the past and put on Facebook by scammers.

But today had a new twist. When I called two people to follow up on their zillow inquiry, they informed me that someone had tipped them off on facebook to the scam and were no longer interested, even after I explained what happened.

So while I can monitor facebook for my house pictures, any tips on how to convince applicants that my zillow ad is the real deal?

David,

Our highjackers seemed to stop when we started watermarking our website on the photos.

They are clever and it's a lot of money for them.

When I give them our Deposit Only account number I tell them to ask the bank teller if this account is legit. Even the tellers who do not know is can see the large balances on our a counts - something scammers probably do not have.

Or have them call your police officer - someone with credibility who knows you.

But then again, we had a scammer print out a lease with my name on it and sign my name then walk away with the money.

A local LL says "I will meet you at the house with my master key. "

BRAD

"Or have them call your police officer - someone with credibility who knows you."

Brad, I would think that if the police knows you, there's something wrong with either you or your tenants ... in ten years I have interacted with police regarding my rentals, twice (after a water heater was stolen in a vacant rental).

Davis,

Good catch!

In our county of 65,000 people I make it a point for the police chief and sheriff, and their staff to know me.

We in invite EVERY govt official to our annual Christmas luncheon. I also show my face at local political rallies. Makes a big difference when I pick up the phone and ask questions etc.

I have not come up with a fool proof way to protect prospects from scammers.

I did a few watermarks back a few years ago to help "stop" them. The scammers don't care ... they still just take your photos and put them on. What gets me though is that the prospective tenants don't even pay attention to them (the watermarks) ... they still act surprised that they were scammed.

I have yet to have any scammer actually call people. It always seems to be an email "story" they send back to the inquiry. They may have stepped up their game though.

I had one tenant tell me about a year or two ago that they actually saw the apartment, was shown around in person by someone, paid them money to hold the apartment... and then when they went to meet them to move in on the first of the month (or whenever) there was a line of people doing the same thing.

The owner was there (not the person that showed them around) and said "I have no idea what you are all talking about. This apartment was spoken for a few months ago. The previous tenant moved out and we're cleaning it for the new tenant."

I don't know if it was the owner that scammed people or the previous tenant (since they claim it had furniture in it and the person that showed them around was in a suit or dressed nicely, etc and spoke like the landlord / owner).