Consumers searching for rental properties should be on the lookout for scammers who provide fake listings or copy legitimate listings and trick consumers into paying before seeing the property, Arizona’s attorney general is warning.
The scam artists also try to obtain personal and banking information to steal identities, according to Attorney General Kris Mayes, who explained that many people are being priced out of the Arizona home-buying market and so are looking for rentals.
“Housing is a basic human need and, unfortunately, some fraudsters prey upon that need to take advantage of hardworking Arizonans simply trying to find a place to live,” Mayes said in a news release. “I urge you to be cautious about who you provide your financial and other personally identifying information to when looking for a home.”
Mayes provided the following advice to those seeking rental homes and apartments:
If a rental price is “well below” market price for similar properties, be skeptical
Look up the address on a search engine to determine that the property is not “for sale” elsewhere
Drive by the property to make sure that it really exists
Avoid businesses and individuals who list rental properties but are not reachable by phone during normal business hours; who claim to be out of state or out of the country; or who want to communicate only via text
Avoid those who ask that payments be sent overseas or by wired funds, gift cards or through peer-to-peer payment apps
Be wary of those charging “up-front” fees in addition to regular application and credit check fees
Be skeptical of those who request up-front personal information such as Social Security number and bank account information
Walk through the site and determine whether it fits the description of what is being advertised and that it matches the lease or rental agreement description
Ensure that all fees and costs are included in the lease or rental agreement
Make sure you understand the lease or rental agreement terms
If a lease or rental agreement has blank spaces, don’t sign
Pay the security deposit only after you have a signed lease
Get a copy of the signed lease or rental agreement
