The Flathead Valley's red-hot rental market is rife with scams, according to the Kalispell Police Department.

In a news release Wednesday, the department said it has been "hearing an influx of scamming activity related to bogus rental housing."

Housing vacancy in Flathead County is reported at a mere 1%. Meanwhile, the rental market is gearing up for its most active time of the year, made even busier by the recent influx of residents as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The situation is ripe for scammers.

According to KPD's observations, fraudulent rental property owners are listing rentals online at classified advertisement websites such as Craigslist and asking for electronic payment transfers through apps such as Venmo or PayPal. "These scams can appear legitimate by listing existing properties and emailing rental agreements," the department warned.

KPD advised interested renters to ask to meet listers face to face. "If they refuse, or do not refer you to a local rental agency or property management company, they may be a scam," the department said.

"If you meet face to face, and still want to use a payment transfer application, be sure to write down a license plate, description of the person and vehicle," the department added.

KPD also suggested using Flathead County's online GIS map or the Montana Cadastral site to find information about property owners. Another strategy is to personally seek out rental agencies and property management companies and visit their offices to verify their legitimacy.