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Is That Rental Listing Real? A BBB Study of Rental Scams Involving Apartments, Houses and Vacation Properties
By Better Business Bureau. December 10, 2019.
To view the full article, please visit:
https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21033-bbb-investigation-rental-scam
Tips to help avoid rental scams
Home and apartment rentals red flags
It is likely a scam if:
The owner is out of town, and you cannot see the unit in person before sending money.
There is a "for sale" sign in the yard.
The alleged owner or property manager wants money through Western Union, MoneyGram, or a gift card. No legitimate business gets paid this way.
The rent advertised is well below market rates.
Those looking for a rental should first conduct an internet search. Copy the photos in the post and use Google Image Search or Tineye.com to check for multiple listings. Also search using an interesting phrase in the description. And search for the address of the unit.
If you see the unit in person, check ID and make sure you are dealing with the real property owner or manager.
Vacations
If you are using a vacation rental platform:
Beware of "owners" that want you to get off the platform to communicate or send money.
Watch out for fake websites impersonating reputable vacation platforms. Real websites can be copied and created with another name.
Research the rental property owner and call them to be sure that they are real.
Do a quick internet search. Does the property exist at that address? Does the same photo appear at different locations?
Look at reviews carefully. These can be helpful, but note that crooks may fake reviews.
How to report a rental scam
File a report with local police.
Go to BBB.org to view a business' BBB Business Profile, including complaints and reviews, or to file a complaint or Scam Tracker report.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint or by calling 877-FTC-HELP.
File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
For incidents in Canada, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Call toll free from the U.S. at 1-888-495-8501.
Report rental scams to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
By C. Steven Baker, BBB International Investigations Specialist
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