Better Business Bureau warns Louisiana residents of rising scams

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana is warning residents to stay alert, as scammers are targeting people across the state with fraudulent home listings and fake job offers — tactics that have already cost victims thousands of dollars.

“It starts with a simple message — a mobile home for sale or a high-paying job offer,” said Carmen Million, President and CEO of the BBB. “These scammers will use legitimate sites and put information on them to get your attention.”

In one reported case, a Louisiana resident wired $3,500 to a fake seller posing as Rose Harvey Mobile Homes. The scammer used photos stolen from real dealers and posted listings on social media, directing buyers to a legitimate address in Denham Springs. But when the victim arrived, no trailer, no seller, and no business.

“There are a lot of warning signs,” Million said. “They’re asking for money upfront, it’s an offer that sounds too good to be true, and you can’t actually see the item in person.”

The BBB is also seeing a rise in employment scams, where fake recruiters impersonate major companies like Amazon, LinkedIn, or Target. Victims receive unsolicited texts or emails promising remote jobs with high pay and flexible hours, only to be asked for banking information or upfront fees.

“You need to investigate the potential company that is going to hire you,” Million said. “No legitimate employer will ask you to pay for a job or communicate only through messaging apps.”

The BBB encourages consumers to take the following precautions:

• Verify business credentials on BBB.org before sending money or personal information.
• Reverse image search suspicious listings to detect stolen photos.
• Never wire money or provide banking info to people you haven’t met in person.
• Be cautious of any offer that feels rushed, vague, or “too good to be true.”

If you believe you’ve been targeted by one of these scams, report your experience to the BBB ScamTracker or call the BBB of South Central Louisiana at (225) 346-5222.

Latest News