Gentry Police Concerned About Rental Scam

Gentry police are warning the public to be cautious of online advertisements for residential rental property.

A press release from Police Chief Keith Smith says some of these ads could be fictitious.

Smith’s warning follows a report Monday by an area business owner Betty Andrews who reported what police believe is a scam involving rental home in Gentry.

Andrews said she and her husband went to check  on a home they were in the process of renting. When they arrived, they were startled to find a man sitting on the porch.

The man said he was waiting to meet the owner there so he could rent the home. The man said he learned about the rental opportunity from an advertisement on the Craig’s List Web site.

About this time, and woman and man in a gold minivan pulled up. The woman, who said her name was Sandra Lossellyoung, identified herself a a representative, showing properties for a woman named Sara Smith.

When confronted, Lossellyoung said if the potential renters had problems they could call Smith. Lossellyoung then provided a phone number that turned out to be a non-working number.

Police are looking for Lossellyoung, who may be using a false name, police said.

She is described as being white, about 5-feet, three-inches tall, slightly overweight and between 35-40 years old. She has light bushy hair she wore in a pony tail and has rotting teeth, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Gentry Police Department at (479) 736-8400.