Millions of American renters have been affected by rental scams. According to an
Apartment List survey carried out in 2019, over 5 million renters in the United States fell victim to rental fraud. Many have learned from their mistakes; however, there are a good number of renters who fall for rental scams.
As with other schemes, rental scams equally come with their fair share of tell-tale signs. Here are 5 of the most common red flags to help you identify and avoid scam listings:
A Reluctance or Refusal to Meet or Show the Property
An important part of the renting process is meeting your landlord and having a good look at the property in person. But, when a landlord is reluctant or refuses to meet you or show the listing through anything other than photos, rest assured you’re probably dealing with a scam listing.
Beware of scammers and their devices, and they’ll use any excuse or reason to make it seem like they sincerely cannot meet you in person. They might claim to be sick, out of town, or busy. One thing you should keep in mind is that any good landlord would take out the time to talk to their tenant so they can get to know them a little better. Even if a face-to-face meeting isn’t possible, there are different ways to work things out, like setting up a video chat and a real-time video tour of the
rental property.
Also, meeting someone who claims to be the landlord doesn’t necessarily mean the listing is authentic. Scammers are smart, and they can go as far as having someone pose as the property owner to earn your trust, but they seldom have access to the rental property. As such, in addition to meeting the property owner/landlord, be assertive when you ask to see the property. If someone claims to the landlord, then it shouldn’t be a big deal to show you the listing in person.
Upfront Payment
A scammer's principal motive is to get your hard-earned money within the shortest time possible and disappear immediately. As a result, the majority of rental scams would have you pay a large sum of money in advance before showing you the listing or signing the lease. In fear of being identified, scammers can equally request payment instead of collecting the money in person.
To be on the safe side, it is important for you to know the renting processes and what it involves. A normal process involves an application fee, an application form, personal credentials, a background check, credit score analysis, etc. On the other hand, if the renting process has a landlord requesting a security deposit or rent before signing a lease, rest assured it's a scam. Scammers will go as far as claiming to live far away and, therefore, can't receive the money in person. Never fall for this trap.
Poorly Written Listing
If you ever come across a listing written with grammatical and typographical errors, there is a likelihood that it is a scam listing. Real property owners or property managers maintain a certain level of professionalism and would avoid the mistake of writing a bad listing. More so, they endeavor to proofread everything they write so they don’t come across as unprofessional or amateurish. Scammers, on the other hand, are concerned with making a quick buck by reaping you off, they don’t care about writing a decent listing
Low Rental Rates
Listings with very low rent might seem like great offers, but the truth is they are fraudulent baits for ignorant renters. Seldom would you find properties priced at significantly lower rental rates compared to similar properties. Scammers employ advertising techniques aimed at persuading renters to act fast and out of fear; if you hesitate, someone else may go for the rental unit. To avoid this, make sure to educate yourself on the market rental rates in the area.
Sometimes, though, a property owner might price their rental unit lower than the market rate because of a flaw. For instance, the unit may be in an area that’s prone to floods, or it may be located in an area close to a noisy construction site.
Suspiciously High Upfront Fees
Scammers are shrewd and would want to get the most out of each ploy, so they will take any chance to charge ridiculously high fees and vamoose. This could be in the form of too many upfront fees or an astronomical security deposit. If you’re dealing with someone who request you pay an unusually high amount as a deposit, keep your guard up and investigate further. Always remember not to pay rent or a deposit before having a face-to-face meeting, seeing the property, and signing a lease.
Rental scams are rampant, and they take place all the time. The best you can do to avoid being scammed is to educate yourself on the warning signs of a fraudulent rental. When you come across a listing you like, insist on meeting the property owner and viewing the property. Additionally, don’t rush things, review your lease thoroughly, and never pay rent or deposit without signing a lease.
Millions of renters have lost money on rental scams. You don’t want to be a statistic. Ultimately, the best way to avoid a rental scam is to look for a good property management company in your area. Take a look at their listings, and if any meets your eye, you can make an inquiry and be certain that you’re dealing with professionals.
Want to know more about how Craig's list scammers rip people off. Check out or blog post specific to Craig's List.
Craig’s List Scams and how they get you and your money!
