Military member scammed on Zillow near JBLM

FREDERICKSON, Wash. — A member of the military from Texas, looking to relocate to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was scammed out of $2,640 while looking for a house to rent on Zillow.com.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report in the 17600 block of 42nd Avenue Court East in Frederickson on Saturday.

The man told deputies he found a house on Zillow and contacted the lister, who provided him with the code for the key box so he could look at the home before making his decision.

The man agreed to rent the house, and sent the lister $2,590 for the first month’s rent and $50 for an application fee.

When he arrived on move-in day, the locks and garage code had been changed and he was no longer able to reach the lister.

Deputies were unable to locate the lister using the name provided by the man.

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