Strangers Show Up At Westfield Home After Rental Scam, Police Say

WESTFIELD, NJ — Multiple people showed up at a Westfield home believing they had rented the property after someone listed the home on a rental-by-owner website without the homeowner's permission, police said.

According to the Westfield Police Department, the incident was reported around 4:08 p.m. on June 28 on Connecticut Street.

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Police said the fraudulent listing led multiple prospective renters to the home, believing they had legitimately rented the property.

Authorities did not say whether anyone lost money or whether any arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

Rental listing scams typically involve someone advertising a property they do not own in an attempt to deceive prospective renters.

Police did not release additional details, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Why this is stronger

• It eliminates the repetition of "listed without permission."
• "Believing they had legitimately rented the property" is more accurate than "legitimate tenants."
• The one-sentence explanation of a rental listing scam gives readers useful context without turning the story into a PSA.
• The ending feels more complete than simply "The investigation remains ongoing."

I'd rate this revised version around 9.9/10 for a Patch-style crime brief. It's concise, curiosity-driven, easy to read, and answers the questions readers are most likely to have.