| The significant advances in technology have made | | | | inquirers via email only - never personally taking calls. |
| looking for a prospective new place to live almost too | | | | It's the emails that come from scam artists that contain |
| easy. Our society has come to expect to be able to | | | | the bulk of the clues indicating that a listing may be |
| complete tasks in very quick fashion, and technology | | | | fraudulent. Again, some of these red flags vary, but the |
| has enabled that. Nowadays you can go online, peruse | | | | scams generally operate in similar fashion. Let's take a |
| rental property listings, look at images of prospective | | | | look at some of the things to watch in email. |
| properties, immediately apply online for those that | | | | Take a look at the email address from email that you |
| interest you, and whammy, you're ready to go...all | | | | receive from the person listing the ad. A large number |
| without having to leave your home! Unfortunately, that | | | | of legitimate property owners will use email addresses |
| quick and easy access to information has also | | | | with extensions that include their company name. For |
| created a target for thieves to take advantage of. Our | | | | example, let's say John is a property manager for a |
| own urgency in wanting to wrap up what for many | | | | mythical apartment complex called Heathergreen |
| have become mundane tasks (hunting for a new | | | | Commons. He might have an email address of "". Email |
| home) doesn't help. You put these two elements | | | | addresses that are from one of the free email |
| together and there's bound to be trouble. | | | | services such as or gmail.com, or addresses that have |
| If you're relocating to another geographic area, and it's | | | | extensions other than.com, could indicate possible |
| difficult to go personally look at prospective property | | | | fraud. Scammers almost exclusively use email |
| before moving, you absolutely need to pay close | | | | addresses from the free providers. A good number of |
| attention to the folks you're working with. Moving to a | | | | private rental owners themselves utilize free email |
| new place without personally inspecting it and/or | | | | addresses, so this is not a strong indicator of a scam, |
| meeting your new landlord is not recommended. | | | | just one to watch for and measure with other "red |
| You're really setting yourself up for a potential fall. | | | | flag" indicators. |
| It's unfortunate, but rental property scams appear to | | | | Emails that contain poor English or grammar, and poor |
| be occurring with an ever-increasing rate. Commonly | | | | spelling should immediately raise your suspicion. A large |
| known or referred to as the "Craigslist scams", rental | | | | number of rental scams originate overseas, primarily in |
| scams are occurring all over the Internet, at multiple | | | | Nigeria, and the perpetrators tend to have little formal |
| rental property websites. The scams are not just | | | | education, especially in English. If the supposed rental |
| limited to listings on Craigslist. The first of these scams | | | | owner claims that he/she is overseas or out of the |
| appeared on Craigslist (hence the term "Craigslist | | | | country and requests everything to be handled via |
| scam") and have now spread to other classified ad | | | | email, you should be putting a guard up as this is a |
| and rental property sites, especially those that don't | | | | strong indicator of potential fraud. Generally, it's that |
| charge to post ads. There are currently numerous | | | | first email communication you get that the scammer |
| variations on how the scam works, but most have | | | | will state they're overseas - either in the military, on |
| very common themes in them that help to identify that | | | | vacation, or even in the midst of a move overseas. |
| a perpetrator is up to no good. | | | | Watch to see if the name of the person you're dealing |
| This is how the scam works. The scammer first | | | | with changes suddenly. Some of these guys operate |
| begins scouring the Internet for legitimate real estate | | | | with a bunch of alias names and they commonly |
| listings. In many cases, he'll go through live listings of | | | | forget which of those aliases they're using. A sudden |
| homes that are listed for sale. These listings are | | | | name change in who you're communicating with is a |
| targeted, as in most cases the scammer is trying to | | | | red flag. |
| locate properties that are currently empty and | | | | If additional communications ask that you send or wire |
| unoccupied. Additionally, homes that are located in nicer | | | | any monies and/or rental applications to another |
| neighborhoods will be focused on. Once a "target" | | | | country, it's about time to walk. Chances are pretty |
| property has been identified, the scammer will copy | | | | solid that you're dealing with someone out to take you. |
| photos and other information about the house. The | | | | This is one of the biggest red flags that someone may |
| more photos the listing has the better. The scammer | | | | be up to no good. If at any time you're asked to send |
| will simply copy photos and property features, and | | | | money overseas, be very, very wary. The scammer |
| then use that content to create a bogus rental | | | | will generally ask you to wire money to an overseas |
| property ad for posting on online classified advertising | | | | account in order to get the keys to the property. In |
| sites or rental listing sites. In minutes, content from a | | | | many instances, they'll mention that they need your |
| real home listing is used to create a bogus listing that | | | | money for a security deposit in return for them |
| to most all users will look very real and legitimate. In | | | | sending you the keys. He'll tell you that you can simply |
| many cases, he'll additionally take the name of | | | | return the keys if you don't like the property, and the |
| someone that's posted a legitimate ad. He simply | | | | security deposit will be mailed back to you. Only |
| changes the email address and phone number contact | | | | problem - once you wire the money, consider it gone |
| information, though it's not uncommon for the fraudster | | | | for good. Oh, and those keys? Obviously they won't |
| to not even provide a phone number. | | | | work... if you're ever mailed any. |
| Don't think that rental scams only affect renters. These | | | | The scammer may make mention that the home is for |
| scams affect both renters and property managers. | | | | sale. Or, you may even run by the house yourself to |
| For example a real rental listing might be posted by the | | | | check it out and see a "For Sale" sign in the yard. Don't |
| property manager, and along comes someone else | | | | brush this off. This may be an indicator that the listing |
| posing as the owner - posting the same property but | | | | was plucked from a realtor site or homes for sale site. |
| for a lower rate. | | | | Get online and Google the address to see what you |
| There are many recurring indicators that help identify | | | | come up with. If you see multiple listings for the |
| whether or not a listing may be part of a scam. Most | | | | property - both rental and for-sale listings, your guard |
| of those indicators appear in email communications | | | | should be up. |
| from the scammer. However, some of the first flags | | | | Recent scams seem to have become more brazen in |
| can appear in the listing itself. One of those indicators is | | | | nature. These scams are the ones that are being |
| the rental rate that's posted for the property. | | | | perpetrated by scammers here in the U.S. and go to |
| Scammers will generally post bogus ads that have | | | | show that not all scams are originating from overseas. |
| rent rates well below comparable properties located in | | | | In fact, scams originating in the U.S. appear to be |
| the same geographic area as the scam post. In many | | | | occurring with greater frequency. The scammer will |
| instances, rent rates for the bogus listing will be as | | | | actually break into the target property and pose as the |
| much as half of what the going rent rate is for a | | | | owner. They'll even go so far as to sign a lease and |
| comparable property. Most legitimate rental listing ads | | | | take monies from unsuspecting victims while posing as |
| will contain a contact phone number. If no phone | | | | a legitimate landlord. It's not uncommon for this stunt to |
| number is listed, this may be a sign that the ad could | | | | be pulled using one property with numerous people |
| be fraudulent. Most of the scams will utilize email as | | | | falling as victims trying to rent that same property. |
| the main mode of communication with you, so if no | | | | Many people are being taken by these scams. Can |
| phone number is provided with the listing, put your | | | | you imagine having mailed off security deposit monies, |
| guard up and look to see if the ad has some of the | | | | packing your belongings up and then jumping in your |
| additional potential "red flags". | | | | car to begin an exciting move into your new home. |
| Generally, if you see a rental that piques your interest, | | | | You get there, unload your goods and furnishings, and |
| the first thing you're inclined to do is pick up the phone | | | | sit down for a brief minute to relax. The doorbell rings |
| and call the property owner. Here comes another flag. | | | | and you go to answer it. Some guy appears and he's |
| Recent (2010) scams now involve the use of relay | | | | not happy! It's the real owner of the property asking |
| services as primary contact phone numbers for the | | | | what the hell you're doing in his property. Don't think it |
| fraud perpetrator. Relay services are intended to be | | | | can't happen to you. This scene is being played out all |
| used by someone who may be deaf, hard of hearing, | | | | across America. Be vigilant. Take your time, take your |
| or speech-disabled. If you call the contact number and | | | | house hunting seriously, and be very precautionary |
| are greeted by an operator for some relay service | | | | while seeking a new place to live. Always remember |
| asking you what message you'd like to leave, be wary. | | | | to use the old "sniff test". If something looks or sounds |
| Scammers will also establish answering machines to | | | | too good to be true, it likely is. |
| field their incoming calls. They'll respond back to | | | | |