INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers that scammers are taking over real rental listings and making them their own.They copy the pictures, description, or virtual tour from a real online rental li sting, replace the agents contact information with their own, and then post the phony ads on a new website.The scammers may replace the landlords name with their name, lower the price, or ask for moneya deposit, application fee, or down payment.The FTC said they may also: Tell you to complete an application with information like your Social Security number, a picture of your drivers license, paystubs, and other personal details. Then they might use this information to steal your identity. The scammer might say you need to show youre creditworthy by sending screenshots of your credit scores. What they really want is to get you to enroll in a paid credit monitoring program with recurring fees.Indianas I-Team spoke with Terri Miller, a consumer education specialist at the Federal Trade Commission. She recommended taking an important step when looking for a rental.Search for that rental address online, said Miller. If you see another rental with that same address, maybe the price is different or the contact information for the landlord is different. That's a sign that this is a scam.In another version of the scam, scammers may create listings for places that do not exist.The fake owner might tell you can only secure the property with a wire transfer through Western Union or MoneyGram, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to pay for an application fee, deposit, or first months rent. But after you pay, the person youve been dealing with will disappear with your money.Consider it a red flag if the property owner is pressuring you to make a decision or if the price seems too low.FTC TIPS: How To Tell Whether a Rental Listing Is Real Search online for the name of the property owner or rental company with the words complaint, review, or scam. See what other people say about their experiences. Consider the price of the rental. If the rent is a lot cheaper than most rents in the area, it could be a sign of a scam. And if anyone pressures you to make a decision quickly to get a great deal, walk away. If you can, look at the property before you sign or pay. Visit the property in person, have a friend or someone you know visit it, or watch a video or virtual tour. But know that thats still not a guarantee that a property is real or available for rent. If you go in person, ask the rental agent for a business card issued by the company that owns or manages the property. Then check the agents ID to be sure it matches the records. Dealing with a private landlord? Search city or county tax assessment websites to learn who owns a property, then check the landlords ID to be sure it matches the records. If youre booking a vacation rental, get a copy of the contract before you send any deposit money. Check that the address of the property really exists. And if the property is in a resort, call the front desk and confirm the location of the property and other details on the contract. ...read more read less