Across Jefferson Parish and New Orleans, renters say they were taken for a ride by someone pretending to be licensed realtors, complete with polished listings and official-sounding messages. The imposters allegedly copied legitimate property ads, then rushed applicants into paying application fees, deposits and the first month's rent through payment apps before vanishing. Several victims say the scammers even handed over access codes and detailed scheduling information, making the rentals look every bit the real deal until the money left their accounts.
Metairie renter Siearra Perio told local reporters she is out $1,328 after responding to what looked like a straightforward rental listing, and several other renters have now filed reports with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office and the New Orleans Police Department, according to WDSU. The station reports that homes listed for sale under realtor Daniel Baptiste's name were quietly switched to rental listings with a different phone number attached, and prospective tenants were instructed to send application fees or deposits up front. Local real estate professionals say the imposters are layering in very specific details to get renters to drop their guard.
How listings are hijacked
In many cases, scammers simply clone legitimate listings: they lift the original photos, floor plans and descriptions, then repost them elsewhere with a new contact number and a lower rent to reel people in. According to Zillow, tenants should treat it as a major red flag if they are asked to pay anything before seeing a property in person, or pushed to use unusual payment methods. The company also offers tools for renters to flag suspicious ads. Industry observers say throwaway phone numbers and AI-generated images are giving scammers more cover, making fake listings tougher to spot at a glance.
Local agents and investigators respond
Baptiste, a firefighter who is working to build his real-estate profile, told reporters he started getting alerts about showings booked under his name that he had never scheduled. Victims said the alleged hacker was sending lockbox combinations and detailed information about the homes over text, then demanding application fees, the first month's rent and an extra $200 on top of that. Investigators say they are tracking leads and have been in contact with the online marketplace involved as part of their probe, according to WDSU. Police are urging renters to check a realtor's license or verify a listing before sending any money.
A bigger pattern
Nationally, this is far from a one-off shakedown. Federal data show rental fraud is widespread: an analysis by the Federal Trade Commission identified nearly 65,000 rental-scam reports from January 2020 through June 2025, with roughly $65 million in reported losses and a median reported loss of about $1,000, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The agency also found that many scams kick off on social platforms and warned that AI tools are making detection harder, particularly for renters already scrambling in tight housing markets.
How to protect yourself and report fraud
Authorities and consumer advocates repeat the same core advice: do not send money before an in-person walkthrough, confirm who actually owns the property through public records, and avoid wiring funds or paying by gift card or unfamiliar payment apps. If you are caught up in a suspected scam, file a report with local police and your bank, and submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. Save screenshots, messages and receipts so investigators and your bank have something concrete to work with.
Investigators say they are pursuing leads and working with payment platforms to try to claw back stolen funds, though recovery is typically slow and never guaranteed. Renters who think they were targeted are urged to preserve all communications and report the incident to local law enforcement, their bank's fraud unit and the Federal Trade Commission so investigators can spot patterns and go after the offenders.
