Crime & Safety
Richland County, SC Renters Warned of Fake Home Listings
Columbia, SC – Renters across Richland County are being warned about a deceptive housing …
By Owen Prescott · 2026-09-09T21:19:56.253Z
Columbia, SC – Renters across Richland County are being warned about a deceptive housing scam in which a working lockbox code or key can give victims access to a real home even though the person collecting the money has no right to rent it.
According to the Richland County Sheriff& 39;s Department, scammers are advertising homes they do not own or manage and convincing prospective tenants to send deposits or rent payments.
In some cases, the alleged scammers may provide victims with a code or app that opens a legitimate real estate lockbox. That allows the prospective renter to retrieve a key and physically enter the property, potentially making the listing appear legitimate.
"Access to the house does NOT mean the person renting it to you has the right to do so," the department warned Wednesday.
Authorities are urging renters in Richland County and the greater Columbia area to independently verify who owns or manages a property before sending money. Prospective tenants should avoid relying solely on links supplied by someone claiming to be a landlord.
The sheriff& 39;s department also recommends being suspicious of anyone who refuses to meet in person or claims they cannot show the property themselves. A lockbox code, key or property access app should never be treated as the only evidence that a rental offer is legitimate.
Victims of such schemes could lose their security deposit, rent payments and the home they believed they had secured, authorities warned.
The department did not identify a specific property, announce arrests or disclose how many residents may have encountered the scheme.
Anyone who encounters similar suspicious rental activity in Richland County is asked to contact the sheriff& 39;s department at 803 576 3000.