National Cyber Security Awareness Month - Tip of the Day #28
Tip #28: That amazing, unbelievable online rental ad? Beware.
As always, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. If you are looking online for a rental property and find an unreal deal, be very, very cautious.
Scammers use information from real estate listings to post fraudulent apartment or home rental ads on Craigslist and other online sites. They may “rent out” a property that they don’t own to multiple people, taking security deposits and first month’s rents from all of these parties. Their listings may also be ploys to get you to pay for a credit report service…the scammers get a commission if you do.
Craigslist offers these two simple tips on their website: “Do not rent or purchase sight-unseen – that amazing ‘deal’ may not exist” and “Refuse background/credit checks until you have met landlord/employer in person.” #CyberAware