Safety Guidelines

Property for Rent website Scams  – Rental fraud

One of the most prevalent real estate scams involves the posting of fictitious listings for properties that may not exist or are not available for rent or sale.

Especially in the digital age, the proliferation of fake listings and rental scams has become a significant concern.

In a rental scam, scammers create fake rental properties on listing sites using photos and descriptions of a real home.

They ask you to send a security deposit and their first month’s rent through an electronic transfer and an application.

The listing says they won’t show the apartment or rental property until they receive this deposit, promising to refund the money if you don’t rent the home.

But if you send money, the scammers take it and disappear.

How to avoid these scams:

• Visit the property: Scammers will never actually show you a rental property. Instead, they will make excuses about being busy or out of the country.
  If they won’t let you see a place you’re trying to rent, it’s a fake listing.
• Never send money upfront: If someone requires a cash deposit before showing you an apartment, they’re scamming you.
  Legitimate property owners won’t do this. They’ll let you tour a property before asking for any cash.

• Consider the price of the rental : Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. If a property is being offered for rent at a price that is much lower than the market rate, that is a red flag.It is likely a scam.