Earlier this month, Fulton County resident David Levins, reached out to Roswell police and the local media to warn anyone who is looking to list their house for sale on Zillow and Trulia, that scam artists have been targeting potential buyers.

It all started when Levins, a north Fulton homeowner, listed his Roswell home for sale on Zillow. Levins then started to receive mysterious phone calls asking if his house was the one for rent on Trulia.

“The first one I thought they were just mistaken, but by the fourth or fifth call I knew something was going on,” Levins explained.

After a few phone calls regarding his house, Levins asked one of the callers, who was from Florida, to send him a copy of the listing that they were referring to.  Levins noticed that the rental price was far below market and the description that was associated with pictures of his house, said that the owners would be out of the country for a few years and were looking for someone to take care of their home in the meantime. All in all, it was a scam to get renters to most likely pay some sort of security deposit, and first and last month’s rent in order to live in the home, that the renter would then realize is for sale by the real owner (Levins), and be conned out of money.

Flustered and concerned, Levins took charge and had the fake listing removed and got the Roswell police involved to trace the number and email address associated with the false listing.

If you are moving to Roswell, or anywhere, Levins wants to warn potential buyers or renters to never do business via email. If you cannot go to the home and physically see it and talk to someone who has proof of ownership, then stay away. This may be difficult if you are moving from out-of-state, but Levins encourages home buyers to take the time to view properties first.