10/08/2026
When we tell a customer, “Call us if you need anything,” we actually mean that.
Not just if your car has a problem.
Need help making a budget?
We’ll help you.
Need help finding a job?
We’ll help you.
If there’s a problem in your life that we might be able to help solve, we’re going to try.
Transportation might be the reason we met, but we don’t believe our responsibility to people ends when they drive off the lot.
Which brings us to Santos.
Santos came in recently and told us he had a weird feeling about a rental property he had found on TikTok.
He showed it to us.
It was supposedly a 3-bedroom, 2-bath house renting for only $700 a month.
That was red flag #1.
It wasn’t because a cheap rental can’t exist, but mostly because the TikTok account was advertising rentals all over Arkansas at prices that seemed dramatically below their markets
Then Santos told us they wanted the application fee sent through Cash App.
Red flag #2.
Then he showed us the “approval letter” they sent him.
The TikTok account was presenting itself as a property management company, but the approval paperwork didn’t even have the company’s name on it and the property address used “United States” at the end of it. Not common either.
Red flag #3.
Then we noticed something else.
The “property management company” had a phone number with a 7XX area code that wasn’t from Arkansas.
Again, that alone doesn’t prove anything. Plenty of legitimate people keep out-of-state phone numbers.
But when you start stacking red flags on top of red flags, you start paying attention.
And this is where Santos deserves a lot of credit.
Instead of fully falling for it, he physically drove to the house.
There was a FOR RENT sign in the yard.
But the phone number on the sign had a 479 area code.
Red flag #4.
Santos walked in and asked for our opinion on the matter.
So we looked up the address on Zillow.
Here’s the interesting part:
The house really WAS for rent.
The scammers hadn’t invented the property.
They had simply found a legitimate rental listing and were pretending it was theirs.
The actual property management company listed on Zillow was completely different from the company represented on TikTok.
And that is exactly how these scams work.
They use steal REAL listings.
Real address.
Real pictures.
Real house.
Real rental.
We’ve encountered dozens of customers over the years who have lost hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars to scams exactly like this.
Application fees.
Deposits.
First month’s rent.
“Hold the property” fees.
And by the time they realize what happened, the person disappears.
So if you’re currently shopping for a rental, here are a few things we would recommend:
1️⃣ SEARCH THE ADDRESS YOURSELF.
Look it up on Zillow, Realtor.com, Facebook Marketplace, Google, and anywhere else the property might be advertised.
If you find the same house listed by a different company, different person, different phone number, or different price, investigate before sending anything.
2️⃣ CALL THE NUMBER ON THE ACTUAL PROPERTY.
If there’s a sign in the yard, call that number.
Don’t automatically assume the person messaging you online is connected to the house.
3️⃣ VERIFY THE LANDLORD OR MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
Google the company.
Look for a website.
Look for reviews.
Search the phone number.
Check how long their social media account has existed.
A legitimate property management company should leave some kind of local to you footprint.
4️⃣ CHECK PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.
In most places, property ownership is public record.
Search your county assessor or property records.
The person renting it may legitimately be a property manager rather than the owner, but they should be able to explain who they represent. I can help with this if you are unsure of how to start on this step.
5️⃣ BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL SENDING MONEY THROUGH CASH APP, VENMO, ZELLE, CRYPTO, GIFT CARDS, ETC.
The payment method alone doesn't automatically make something fraudulent.
But sending money to someone you have never met for a property you have never verified should make you stop and investigate.
6️⃣ ACTUALLY GO SEE THE HOUSE/PROPERTY
Ideally, have the landlord or property manager meet you and unlock it.
One of the biggest red flags is:
“I’m out of town.”
“I can’t show it right now.”
“Just drive by it.”
“There are a lot of people interested, so send the deposit first.”
Scammers LOVE urgency.
Even if they want you to apply first, go drive by the supposed address. This step is exactly what unraveled the scam Santos found himself in.
7️⃣ BE SUSPICIOUS OF A DEAL THAT MAKES NO ECONOMIC SENSE.
If similar houses are renting for $1,500-$2,000 and somebody suddenly has a beautiful 3-bedroom house for $700, ask yourself why.
You might have found an incredible deal.
But verify it before assuming you did.
8️⃣ NEVER LET THE FEAR OF LOSING THE HOUSE PRESSURE YOU INTO SENDING MONEY.
A scammer wants you thinking:
“If I don't send this money right now, somebody else is going to get it.”
That urgency is what keeps people from stopping for ten minutes and checking the facts.
Santos did exactly what I wish more people would do.
Something felt wrong.
He didn't ignore that feeling.
He investigated.
And probably saved himself from losing a significant amount of money.
So when I tell my customers, “Call me if you need anything,” this is what I mean.
To us, helping somebody isn't selling them another car.
It’s helping them solve any problem we have experience with or can give an opinion on.
This time it was to avoid making a $1,500 mistake.
And we’re perfectly happy doing either one.
Share this with anyone in the market for a rental. You may help save them from a costly mistake that is hard to recover from.
