This summer, four people have fallen victim to a rental property scam involving the same two homes in Eden Prairie.

The homes are owned by a realty company and are legitimately for sale. Scammers copied online listing photos and falsely advertised the properties for rent. Prospective renters toured the homes, signed fraudulent lease documents and sent money for deposits and rental fees.

One victim lost $3,365, two victims from the same family lost $1,000 collectively and another lost $170 and shared copies of their driver’s licenses. In each case, phone numbers used by the scammers were deactivated shortly after payment was sent.

Several other people contacted the EPPD after becoming suspicious of communications they had with the scammers about potentially renting one of the homes. The department is working with the realty company to help prevent future scams.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, here are a few ways to determine whether a rental listing is legitimate:

• Research the owner or property manager. Search online for the property owner or rental company along with terms such as "complaint," "review" or "scam" to see what others have experienced.
• Be skeptical of unusually low rent. If the price seems significantly lower than similar properties in the area or you're being pressured to act immediately, it's likely a red flag.
• Tour the property, but don't rely on that alone. Visiting a property in person is a good first step, but it isn't a guarantee the listing is legitimate. Some scammers arrange self-guided tours by copying listings from property owners who use self-tour services. Always verify that the person you're dealing with is authorized to rent the property.

If you believe you've been the victim of a rental scam, contact the EPPD at 952-949-6200.