SAN ANTONIO – Jo Anna Cantu and her husband, Jesse Frausto, are fixing up a West Side house to make it their home. They were shocked to learn it was listed for rent.

"I'm mad," Cantu said, explaining how they were surprised Sunday to find people milling about their property.

When they went to confront the uninvited visitors, Cantu said the woman told them they came to look at the house, because it was for rent.

"She pulled out her phone and showed him a post on Facebook," Cantu said.

A screenshot of a Facebook marketplace post showed a man Cantu said they don't even know was offering their house for rent for a $700 deposit and $350 rent.

"I just want to warn people out there," Cantu said. "Don't give money without making sure it is their home."

It's a warning FBI Special Agent Michelle Lee echoes.

"It's really a good idea to have proof the person trying to rent that property to you has legal possession of the property," Lee said.

A simple Internet search or searching the county online appraisal or tax records may yield valuable information.

Schemes targeting renters have been around for years, taking on different variations. But all are designed to lure people in and rip them off.

In an increasingly common online ruse, scammers clone real rental adds on legitimate, respectable websites but substitute their contact information, convincing people to send money for what seems like a deal.

"I wouldn't be comfortable renting a property just driving by and looking in a window," Lee said.

She advises renters see the inside of the property in person. Red flags include landlords unwilling or unable to meet in person or rent prices too good to be true.

Ads long on emotion, request wiring a payment, rush the renter or include misspellings and bad grammar can also signal a scheme.

As for Cantu and Frausto, they're out $400 they spent to upgrade security on their property.

"Now, we're worried," Cantu said.

Renters who suspect a scam can file a complaint with the FBI online.

For more information on prevention, click here.