How To Avoid a Property Rental Scam Circulating Through S.Dakota

If you're searching for a place to rent right now, be advised that there's a property rental scam making its way through South Dakota at the moment.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a statewide warning on Tuesday, September 16, about a shady rental company operating under the name Locayt, and the numbers aren’t pretty. According to Dakota News Now, the BBB has received over 60 formal scam reports and 600 consumer inquiries tied to the company.

Locayt has been operating in South Dakota since September 2023, all without BBB accreditation. It currently holds an F rating, largely because it’s failed to respond to a flood of consumer complaints.

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So what’s the scam?

Locayt allegedly charges renters a $49 "property viewing fee", but once the money is sent, communication stops cold. No tour. No follow-up. No refund. Just radio silence.

Jessie Schmidt, vice president of the South Dakota BBB, told Dakota News Now, “So what happens is, you pay a fee to look at their properties, and then they ghost you and you don’t hear anything else from them, which is a big red flag in our estimation.”

According to Dakota News Now, some hopeful renters even showed up to physical properties listed by Locayt, only to be told by the actual owners that the homes were never available for rent.

What can you do?

The BBB is urging renters to first and foremost do their homework before handing over a dime:

Research rental companies thoroughly.
Verify who actually owns the property.
Be skeptical of listings that are significantly cheaper than market value.

And if you think you’ve been scammed? Act fast. Report it immediately to the Better Business Bureau so they can help track down the fraud and possibly prevent others from being duped.

You can file a report with the BBB here.

Source: Dakota News Now

10 Most Dangerous Cities in South Dakota

Cities on the east and west side of the Missouri River have made the latest list of South Dakota's Most Dangerous Cities for 2021.

Roadsnacks recently released its most 'Dangerous Cities' list and here in The Mount Rushmore state there are a few surprises, especially at the top. To determine the most dangerous cities in the state, Roadsnacks looked at the FBI's report on the latest violent crime, along with property crime statistics.

And surprisingly, the town with the most murders per capita in the state has less than 3,000 residents. Take a look at the list below.

For a look at the detailed list, visit roadsnacks.com Story Source: Roadsncaks