(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County woman was scammed by someone posing as a landlord.

According to La Porte County Police, the 61 year old woman reported she was looking for an apartment to rent when she began chatting on Facebook with someone claiming to be the owner of a rental she had available.  As instructed, the victim placed what was supposed to be a $400 deposit on gift cards and a $60 application fee on a cash app.

Police said the suspect using serial numbers and other information given to her by the victim took the money from the app and gift cards before the woman began suspecting it was a scam.  As it turned out, police said not only did the scammer not own the apartment but the apartment was occupied.   So far, no suspects have been identified.