Rental property scammers are afoot. How do they operate and how can you protect yourself? Find out in today’s video.
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To avoid becoming a victim of this trap, work only with a reputable real estate broker, property management company, or vacation rental agency. If you’re directly doing business with an owner or a private party, be certain that they own the property. The best way to do that is to go meet the owner and see the property.
There are publicly available options for you to check the legitimacy of a homeowner’s claim of possession and to cross-reference that information with the phone number they list.
However, I strongly caution you against putting too much stock in a phone number because scammers have ways to duplicate them, and fraudulent calling systems operating outside of the country disguise themselves as local numbers.
If you have any questions or would like more information, call or email today. Our phone numbers are (239) 248-8000 or (239) 280-0939. I’d love to hear from you.
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Scammers are everywhere, and unfortunately, we’re seeing would-be renters fall prey to them as well. Today I’d like to cast some light on how these scams work, so you don’t become a victim yourself.
Someone posing as a property owner will post an ad with photos of the property they’re claiming to sell. Typically, those photos have just been pulled from a legitimate listing that has been offered for sale or for rent.
The ad will include these lifted photos, a description of the property, and here’s the kicker: a temptingly low rental rate. This “c’mon rate” entices potential renters to respond.
Once they do, they’re instructed to either forward a check, a cashier’s check, or to wire funds. As soon as the money goes through, the ad, along with the scammer, vanishes. The deal was too good to be true, after all, and you’ve thrown away the money you forwarded.
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To avoid becoming a victim of this trap, work only with a reputable real estate broker, property management company, or vacation rental agency.
