Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency alerting households to Facebook scam

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) is alerting vulnerable households of a fake Facebook page pretending to be OHFA.

According to OHFA, information on the fraudulent Facebook page includes a flyer announcing the opening of a waitlist for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). The scam is said to encourage residents to provide their personal information through a fraudulent link or to visit the OHFA office in person. 

OHFA's Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) waiting list according to OHFA has not reopened. Any messaging reporting such information is false, and any information provided through the link could possibly be used to harm an individual’s personal identifiable information. Announcements indicating the list's reopening will be made via press release, the OHFA website (ohfa.org) and on OHFA's social media pages including facebook.com/oklahomahousingfinanceagency.

"We have been working with Meta and other entities to get the fake account removed from Facebook," said Holley Mangham, OHFA communications manager. "This scam has impacted households across the nation. It's unfortunate that people in need of housing assistance are being targeted by false information." 

OHFA encourages residents to be cautious when providing personal information. Those seeking assistance are asked to contact local public housing authorities to see if they are accepting applications.

Other helpful information listed by OHFA:

• Housing authorities such as OHFA do not charge fees to join a waiting list
• When the OHFA waiting list is open, application is made only through a link on the OHFA website
• Never give a Social Security Number, credit card number, or other personal
  information to an unofficial website claiming to provide housing assistance
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rental housing resources

To contact OHFA's Housing Choice Voucher office or to determine waiting list status, call (405) 848-1144.