WEST FIFERS are being urged to watch out for a scam targeting house-hunters.

Dunfermline-based Morgans issued a warning after discovering scammers were using photos – and some wording – from their genuine adverts and placing fake posts online offering the properties for rental in the hope of tricking people into paying a deposit.

After being informed by several individuals about the scam, a post was put up on the firm's Facebook page advising clients to be vigilant.

The firm's HR manager, Nicola Sneddon, said they wanted to raise awareness to ensure potential tenants did not unwittingly part with their cash.

"They are not falsely advertising as Morgans – they are using the photos of our properties and some of the wording and adding their own on Facebook marketplace. A lot of people are using Facebook and Facebook marketplace and what they have done is just check with us thinking it was legit," she explained.

"We are trying to get the message out there. We won't advertise any for let properties on Facebook marketplace. Our properties will only ever be advertised on our own website or the major portals such as RightMove."

Any house-hunters who have contacted Morgans have been advised to contact police in an effort to stem the scamming attempts.

"We contacted the Scottish Association of Landlords who gave us advice and they have confirmed there is nothing we can do to prevent it," added Nicola. "The rental market is really buoyant just now and people are quite desperate to get rental properties.

"They want people to hand over money and are falsely advertising the properties. They realise people are desperate so maybe think that's a better avenue to go down.

"We would only ever ask for funds to be transferred to our own business account and only be advertising on our own website and the major portals.

"We are regularly checking the pages now – we have members of staff looking on a daily basis. All we can do is report individual posts to Facebook marketplace. Hopefully, if we can get the message out there, no-one will be looking at that as a means to get a rental property and therefore aren't going to be scammed."