Victims lose thousands in rental scams as Kentucky lawmakers push for tougher punishments

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A new effort in Frankfort targets scammers who try to rent or sell property they don't own.

Imagine finding the perfect place to rent, sending a deposit and then learning the person you've been talking to doesn't own that property.

"If anybody gives you any pushback and doesn't want to prove to you they own that home, just move right along, because it's probably a scam," real estate broker Jon Hayes said.

In February 2026, The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said several people came forward saying they were victims of rental scams.

Kentucky lawmakers are pushing to crack down on this growing issue.

"It can lead to a financial ruin for someone," said Chief Deputy Steve Healey, with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

A house for rent at a great price and a landlord who disappears the moment you send money. Then you discover the property was never available.

"This is a weekly occurrence," Hayes said. "We're getting these phone calls every single week of people trying to run this scam."

As a landlord, Hayes is no stranger to this scam. He said it often starts with a convincing listing and ends with victims losing thousands of dollars.

"I've had situations where folks have called us and they've given people as much as $3,500 and it's completely, totally fake," Hayes said.

Hayes said this scheme spreads fast, especially online. Someone posts a home, apartment, or plot of land for rent or sale without actually having the legal rights to do so. Healey said a lot of times, scammers will pull ads off of Zillow or a real estate website.

"You can hire an attorney," Hayes said. "You can do anything you want. You're not going to get that money back. I mean, they're smooth. They're running full blown businesses with this stuff."

House Bill 264 targets these scams by strengthening Kentucky's theft by deception law. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said the goal is to protect families who are searching for housing and make it easier to hold frauds accountable.

"Anything we can do to put these criminals behind bars, I'm all for it," Healey said.

While it's also gaining support outside of Frankfort, some worry it will be an "uphill battle" to prosecute scammers.

"These guys are getting really good at hiding where they are and who they are," Hayes said. "It's just very tough to find these individuals."

HB 264 passed in the House 93-0 in February. It's now making its way through the Senate.

In the meantime, always double check before you send any money.

"The ownership of these properties is public record," Hayes said. "You can go online and you can figure out who owns these places for real."

Healey suggests pulling the house up on Zillow to see if it's actually for sale.

The sheriff's office shared the following tips to help renters protect themselves:

Avoid paying rent in cash.
Don't move forward without a signed lease agreement.
Verify property ownership or management through public records or trusted sources.
Ask neighbors who owns or manages the property.
Be skeptical if it seems too good to be true.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is also working on a brochure to help people recognize common rental scams and avoid becoming victims.

If you believe you may be a victim of a rental scam or have seen suspicious rental activity online, immediately report it to law enforcement.