Authorities Warn of Katy-Area Rental Property Scams and Other Deceptions
KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
October 15, 2026
By Natalie Cook Clark
Scammers continue to evolve and they are good at preying on Katy residents and beyond. Katy authorities caution residents on the increase in Facebook Marketplace Rental Property Scams.
Over the years Facebook Marketplace has become a great community for selling items from used children’s toys to even rental properties. Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office states that they’ve seen an increase in rental property scams listed through the site that have affected Katy residents.
"We have seen a growing number of scams targeting our community, and we urge everyone to stay alert — if something feels off, it probably is," says Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan. “Protect yourself by staying informed and always double-check before giving out personal information."
Scammers may copy legitimate listings, use photos of real homes, or pose as property owners, landlords, or leasing agents to steal money from prospective renters.
In these scams, they copy legitimate listings and even use photos of real homes or pose as property owners, landlords or leasing agents. They then steal money from prospective renters.
They lure victims in by pricing good properties at low prices that they do not have permission to rent out. They often make excuses for not being able to meet to show the property such as living out of town.
Local realtor Kerri Schultz with Keller Williams Premier Realty has heard of these scams and cautions potential renters and buyers against falling for them.
“The best way to avoid becoming a victim is to work with a reputable agent and use sites like HAR.com or Zillow,” explains Schultz. “Never use Facebook.”
The scammers typically ask for an application fee, security deposit, first month’s rent, or other payment before the victims can view or access the home.
“Some may provide real addresses, photos, applications, leases, or other information copied from legitimate listings to make the scam appear convincing,” stresses FBCSO.
Tips to Avoid this Scam:
● Be suspicious of rental prices significantly lower than similar properties nearby.
● Search the property address online. If the same home appears under a different landlord, property manager, agent, or price, investigate before sending money.
● Verify that the person offering the property owns it or is authorized to rent or manage it.
● Be cautious if a landlord refuses or repeatedly avoids showing the property in person.
● Never send money to “hold” a property before verifying both the listing and the person offering it.
● Be suspicious of demands for gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, Zelle, Cash App, or other difficult-to-recover payment methods.
● Never provide sensitive personal or financial information until you verify who you are dealing with and why the information is needed.
● Don’t let a great price, high demand, or claims that “other renters are interested” pressure you into acting quickly.
● Remember: A legitimate-looking listing doesn’t always mean a legitimate rental. Verify before you pay.
And this isn’t the only scam currently plaguing our area.
Banks Scams
Harris County Sheriff's Office reports an increase in banking scams.
"We have received reports of scammers posing as bank representatives and claiming there is fraudulent activity on a victim’s account," says a representative with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. "Victims are instructed to enter a verification code, which can allow criminals to gain access to their phone, banking apps, and personal information. In some cases, thousands of dollars have been stolen through electronic transfers."
Arrest Warrant Scam
Another popular scam is when criminals call residents and sound very legitimate with personal details such as addresses, place of work, and other personal details.
According to local officials in all three Katy area counties, residents are reporting unsolicited telephone calls and texts persuading them to make an immediate payment to avoid an arrest. Large amounts of money were remitted via a payment app that is irrevocable.
Scammers consistently impersonate authority or trusted figures, such as a government official or family member. In the recent reports, a legitimate FBCSO employee name was mentioned by the scammer to create a fake emergency and sense of urgency. The scammer mentioned the warrant was issued for a failure of the citizen to appear for a federal jury summons. To avoid the arrest, the citizen was directed to pay via Paypal.
Employees of any law enforcement office, including warrant officers, do not call to collect warrant fees or to collect money for any type of state or federal jury summons. Employees do not conduct authorized business through wire transfers, payment apps such as PayPal, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
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