and always check your state and local laws or contact a real estate professional to help you find a legitimate rental.
Finding the perfect apartment can be difficult, especially with rent prices at an all-time high. Unfortunately, there is also an increasing number of rental scams. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, in 2021 there was over $350 million in lost money due to rental scams, a 64% increase from the previous year.
Rental scams are not just about stealing money, but also about getting access to personal data, such as social security numbers, contact information, and bank accounts. It is important to be aware of the warning signs of a rental scam. If the listing sounds too good to be true, or if the property owner or manager always has an excuse when trying to set up a viewing, it is likely a scam.
To avoid being scammed, it is important to physically view the property, only send money to those you trust, and check state and local laws or contact a real estate professional. Brought to you by Zell, who wants you to find your perfect home without getting scammed along the way.