Locked out and ripped off: The new tactics used in rental scams
Metro Creative
Posted
By Joe Ducey | Better Business Bureau
While Metro Phoenix rental prices have been declining overall, some areas still demand high rents.
So if you find a listing in a great location with a low price, you might apply quickly.
It’s what scammers count on, and why some local renters are losing thousands of dollars.
BBB ScamTracker complaint shows a Phoenix woman found a house on Facebook. The “owner” demanded a $75 background check fee and $1,500 for deposits before showing her the rental house.
After sending the money, the “owner” stopped communicating.
The woman had no name or physical address for the supposed owner and said, “I will be homeless in days.”
Most of these scams happen the same way. It starts with a below-market priced rental listing on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or some rental-only sites.
Communication is done through email or text. The “owner” cannot meet in person.
They demand an upfront payment in cash for fees or deposits before the renter can even see the place.
Once the money is sent, there’s a demand for more.
Turns out the listing was fake, the pictures stolen and all of the money sent, gone.
In some cases, scammers are hacking systems and somehow getting remote access to unlock homes.
Another ScamTracker complaint shows a woman found a house on Facebook and was able to get inside, making it appear legitimate.
After signing a lease, she sent the $5,000 upfront deposit.
“We rented a U-Haul and began loading everything on it,” the complaint says.
But the day they were supposed to move, the “owner” had blocked their phone numbers and never showed.
“We looked the house up on multiple sites and found it for sale on three of them.”
Before sending money for any rental, look for the scam warning signs:
“Owner” or rep won’t meet in person.
Rushed move-in and deposit demands
Below market pricing
Only cash accepted, no credit cards
Do not send money, for any reason, before you’re able to see the place and meet someone there in person.
Check ownership by running the address through your county appraiser’s office.
Also, take the rental pictures, and run them through an online reverse image search. You may also see the pictures were stolen from sales sites, and the house was never actually for rent.
It’s safest to stick with a property management company that you can check out through bbb.org and with an online search for complaints.
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