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I have known of that rental advertising something that is not theirs to advertise as long ago as 1966.
Recently a friend had that happen. Showed a house to a prospective buyer only to find it advertised at a ridiculously low price on that persons website.
If it is a rental agency, then it is not what we traditionally think of as rental fraud. They need listings to get customers. They get someone to call on your house and then it is "Oh sorry, rented that one 15 minutes ago, but let me show you what else we have."
Bait and switch. It is fraud, but not the more common rental kind where they are taking a deposit on a house they don't have. It's too easy to find them for them to be renting houses and taking money on houses they don't have. Although they might be taking application fees.
Car dealers used to do that until the law cracked down on them: advertise a great special that didn't actually exist in order to get customers to come in.
It is highly unethical and I would be reporting them for it.
Veering off topic a little bit: I once lived in an area where it was impossible to rent a place that allowed dogs. So, a couple of unethical rental agencies would advertise these nice low rent places that allowed dogs, but didn't actually exist. They would charge customers a fee to find them a place to live, but didn't have any more dog rentals than anyone else had.
Bait and switch doesn't tend to involve other people's personal property. If they are so huge they should be held accountable, maybe there are other authorities to report to besides the real estate commission.
Two wrongs........ Stealing and destroying someone's sign might get you into trouble, especially in this day and age of video and security cameras everywhere.
Put a sign on my property without my permission and see how far you get when I yank it down and throw it away. That is not stealing and this is not an example of two wrongs.
I own a property in southern California which I rent as a furnished rental during the summer months. The house is currently empty. I had my house listed with a reputable realtor and it was listed on the MLS. We have a signed lease starting in July and the house currently listed as not active.
Today our HOA contacts me to remind me that any real estate signs have to be the 'approved' version and can we please tell our realtor to contact them for the correct signage. Our realtor did not put a sign in front. Low and behold, he swings by our house and there is a sign in front from a major rental agency in the area with a text code for our house. Our realtor called the agent and the agent in turn called me to apologize for the 'mistake by a new agent'. It was no mistake... when I go their website and put in the text code, my house is listed... no pictures, but the full description written by my agent with totally incorrect lease info.. ie says it's unfurnished, lease for 1 year, etc.
My agent recommends I file a police report for trespassing. I'm so mad.. what gives them the right to advertise on my property without my consent?
That's CRAZY! I'd file a complaint with your state's board of realtors. Call and email them telling them they have 24 hours - include date and time - to remove the sign or it will be disposed of. And weekends count in my 24 hours! I'd write a letter of complaint to the broker in addition to your realtor's suggestion of a police report.
I don't give a care if you're a new realtor or been doing this for 80 years, this was NOT cool! This agent tried to steal a listing! They don't even have access or correct info. Keep a record of this and NEVER use that agent or their firm!
And, for sure you can with the Better Business Bureau. if they are a member of a local Chamber of Commerce, go there too.
People keep saying to contact the Real Estate governing body. But they only regulate licensed real estate agents. The agency may not have licensed agents. Unless it's different in your state?
I'll bet there are posts about this company on the web on one of those sites for things like this. I find them and post about your experience.
You could always pay an attorney a small fee to send them a cease and desist letter.
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