{"id":2766,"date":"2022-07-29T23:40:31","date_gmt":"2022-07-29T23:40:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fraud.org\/?p=2766"},"modified":"2022-08-01T10:50:03","modified_gmt":"2022-08-01T10:50:03","slug":"high-rent-scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fraud.org\/high-rent-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"High rent prices create an opportunity for scammers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Searching for a new rental unit can be a stressful time for many consumers. Unfortunately, scammers often make the housing hunt an even bigger headache by preying on individuals seeking new accommodations. Being aware of common rental scams is an especially good idea at a time when rent prices are sky-high, and competition for affordable housing is fierce.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rental scams often start with a digital advertisement either for a unit that does not exist, a unit that the poster does not own, or similar situations where potential renters would never be able to actually live in the displayed housing. These scams seek victims\u2019 money in the form of illegitimate application fees or a security deposit on the unit, usually without allowing the respondent to tour the housing in person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While these scams can be found on websites dedicated to apartment and rental listings, they are more prolific on loosely monitored or peer moderated forums, such as Facebook groups and Craigslist ads. Some common red flags include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n