How to Recognize and Avoid Rental Scams

By Olumide T. Agunbiade

If you are looking for an apartment, the last thing you want is fall victim to a rental scam. Scam artists like to take advantage of prospective tenants because emotions involved in the apartment hunting process can make people more vulnerable.

For instance if you’re feeling excited and enthusiastic about finding a new home, your eagerness might make you become more trusting. Scam artists also prey on apartment hunters who have constraint of time (due to nature of job, personal issues, etc.) and are desperate to find a new place as soon as possible.

Rental Scams can come in varying forms.

The scammer tries to collect money from a prospective tenant for an apartment he has no legal authority over or is in no position to rent; Scammers typically try to get money from the unsuspecting apartment seeker before vanishing. For instance, a tenant who is vacating his apartment might decide to show it, pretending to be the landlord. He might lead unsuspecting tenants to believe they are getting the apartment and collect fees from them. Once the prospects realize that they have been scammed, the scammer vanishes with the money.

Fortunately, there are ways to lower the likelihood, thus avoiding being caught up in the web of rental scams.

Here’s what you should keep in mind when looking for an apartment

FOLLOW THE GENERAL RULE

Don’t let your guard down. Just because you got a listing from a friend, neighbor or even a website does not mean you cannot get scammed by unscrupulous agents or landlords. 

If you believe something is wrong somewhere, somehow, follow your instincts and try to find out what. It could be that the application process is rushed, the landlord or agent seems too eager to rent the apartment to you or any other thing; it may be wise not to pursue it.

AVOID COMMON RED FLAGS

Here are the common red flags to help you spot and avoid rental scams while looking for an apartment.

·         You are asked to send money without having met anyone or viewing the apartment. It’s not common to commit a lot of money for something yet unseen. If a landlord expects you to pay a lot of money before you can see the apartment, it’s a genuine reason to be concerned. Never rely on promises or photos, but actually visit the apartment you are considering renting. Research places neglect of this one rule as responsible for 99% of scam attempts.

·         The Landlord seems too eager to lease the apartment to you. Usually landlords like to know who they want to rent their apartments to and this usually happens during conversations after initial interest. They want to know the salary range, the kind of job, employment verification and even criminal check. When a landlord is not interested in any of these and is eager to negotiate the apartment rent fees, then it’s definitely suspicious.

·         You feel unwarranted sales pressure. If the landlord acts too pushy, it could be red flag. Could be that the landlord evades your questions or tries to make you overlook certain prerequisites you believe are necessary, then you should tread carefully.

·         The Landlord has a convenient excuse of not being able to meet you or sow you the property. The person behind renting the apartment might say he is out of the country indefinitely or won’t return until after you have agreed to the rental and pay fees.

Depending on the peculiarity of the situation you may be dealing with, the above mentioned red flags may not apply. However, the well recommended antidote to avoiding rental scams is vigilance and common sense. Apply these and you may well be on your way to getting your dream apartment.