BRANCH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Association of Realtors® says they have heard about recent rental scams targeting the community.
According to the association, the latest scammer used photos from a local home for sale and placed an ad on a website advertising the home for rent.
Luckily the potential “renter” drove past the home, saw the “For Sale” sign in the yard and contacted the Realtor before giving the scammer any money.
To avoid becoming a victim, the association says you should watch for warning signs such they don’t want to meet you in person or they want you to move in without seeing the property. If you are told to inspect the property by walking around the outside, this is almost certainly a scam.
Other signs you’re dealing with a scam…
- They ask for rent or a security deposit before signing a lease or touring the property.
- The price is too good
- The listing has typos, poor grammar, or excessive punctuation.
- There is no tenant screening process.
- They ask for sensitive information during the process
If you feel you are the victim of a rental scam, contact local authorities and the listing website, report it to the Federal Trade Commission and file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Mooch, steal, scam, embezzlement,identity theft, and extortion to name a few. This is a reflection of our society today.