00:00criminal elements are seeking to capitalize on the need for housing in the country
00:04according to the ttps it has recently been made aware of a real estate scam being perpetrated on
00:10facebook police say it is being done through pages mimicking that of legitimate real estate
00:16businesses according to the ttps the scammers are copying videos and images from authentic listings
00:22and reposting them with altered captions geared to capture the attention of potential buyers
00:28generally listing the properties well below the market value and in notice of a refund if the
00:34property is viewed but not purchased police say that when interested people try to contact these
00:40pages they are being engaged via facebook messenger by the scammers who informed them that in order to
00:47set up a viewing they must make an advanced deposit banking details are then provided by the scammers
00:54who are requesting that a victim provides a screenshot to prove that a payment was made once that is done
01:01the victim is blocked and all means of communication ceases the ttps says quote as interactions are
01:08conducted solely through social media platforms victims are often left without any verifiable
01:14contact information making it difficult to identify or trace the perpetrators end quote it is seeking to
01:21advice people to exercise caution in engaging in online real estate transactions and to never send money to
01:28anyone whose legitimacy is not verified through independent and reliable means police are urging people who
01:34believe that they may have been targeted or who have fallen victim to this scam to report the incident to
01:40the nearest police station alicia boucher tv6 news
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