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April 20th, 2022
2021 was a record-breaking year for internet scams. After the pandemic got most people to move their lives only, scammers have found more opportunities to scam people. Rental scams are one of the most common types of scams out there, and In this article, we’ll go through all of the tips on how to spot and report a rental scam.
Do This Before You Lose Anything to a Scam
Do you know what’s the worst part of being scammed? It’s not the shame, humiliation, or even the disappointment of being taken advantage of. It’s the regret. The feeling that you should have done something differently in the past, but you know it’s too late. It can eat at you and keep you up at night. But, what if I told you there’s a way to skip all that. Running a reverse search can give you all of the information you need to avoid a scam. You have a choice right now. Choose not to be a victim. Use the reverse search bar below to run a search today.
What is a Timeshare Scam?
A timeshare is a popular way of getting a vacation home for a portion of the year. In fact, millions of Americans own a timeshare. While many love their purchase, some want to sell.
People’s rush to sell their timeshare is often where the risk of scams comes in.
Timeshare scammers often reach out to owners who have revealed they’re looking to sell.
They call claiming they have a buyer or can find one quickly. They even set up websites, business addresses, fake agents, and title companies to appear credible.
They use all this to persuade a timeshare owner that they can cure their problem. And then they ask for money.
Just a little upfront, usually by wire transfer, to pay for closing costs, taxes, or as a retainer.
If the owner sends money, they know they have them on the hook. They keep requesting more money for additional “work” until the owner figures it out.
By then, the timeshare owner could be out of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
To avoid timeshare scams, avoid paying anyone over wire transfer.
Lookup any agent or reseller’s license on your state government’s website.
Any real estate agent should be licensed. If they’re not, it’s a huge red flag.
Last, be skeptical of anyone who claims they can sell your timeshare quickly for a great price.
If it sounds too good to be true, it often is.
Listing Scams
Moving to a new city or finding a great deal on a vacation rental can be hard work.
Like with timeshares, it can get to be so hard that a seemingly great deal is too good to pass up.
This leads would-be renters to fall for a trap.
A listing scam is when a scammer lists a property for long-term or vacation rentals to rip off a would-be renter.
Some scammers rip off a real listing, taking photos of the apartment or house and changing the contact information before listing it on another site.
Others make up a fake address from whole-cloth and try to lure in marks with a supposedly great deal.
Either way, there are some key elements to look for to picking out a listing scam.
First, as with timeshare scams, avoid anyone that asks you to wire money.
A listing scammer will often ask for a renter to wire them a security deposit or the first month’s rent.
Even if you’ve signed a contract, there’s no reason you should have to wire money.
They want you to do it so that there’s no way for you to get it back.
Second, if you can’t physically go to the property, have a friend or real estate agent check it out.
If the address doesn’t exist or there are multiple listings online with a different address, this is a clear sign that the listing is a scam.
Scammers are often pushy. They want you to pay them without doing a proper background check and before you can realize that what they’re offering is fake.
Avoid any landlord that gives you an urgent deadline and pushes you to pay.
Real landlords are careful about who they rent to. They aren’t going to risk having a renter move in that they don’t trust.
They’ll take their time.
Last, if they say they’re out of the country but will get you the keys through an intermediary as soon as you pay, this is a sign of a potential scam.
This can be difficult if you’re looking at a vacation rental overseas. Use a legitimate rental site to confirm payment and key delivery and check for any redundant listings to protect yourself.
How to Avoid Rental Scams
There is a throughline that connects all types of rental scams, and there are key strategies for avoiding them.
Never wire money.
Check for duplicate listings, stolen ads, and fake properties by searching for the same address on other sites. Look at it on Google maps. Is it the same place?
If a deal is too good to be true, assume that it is.
Last, only stick to legitimate rental sites.
How can you tell if a site like Rently is legitimate?
Use a service like the Better Business Bureau. Check to make sure that their ratings are high and that they provide materials to help locate and get rid of scams.
Even websites like apartments.com have listing scams, but they also help users identify and get rid of them.
Is Roomies Legit?
With it being so difficult to find someone to rent a room or buy your timeshare, many people look to online platforms to help them find candidates. In their search, many people turn to Roomies. Roomie is a peer-to-peer rental platform that allows users to rent out their spare rooms.
Their listings are moderated and they use a secure messaging system so that users can get to know each other before committing to anything.
Check them out at trust pilot and see for yourself.
In conclusions
Every day, more and more scams are happening on the internet. With so many new scams being developed in such a short period of time, there’s almost no defense for it. Until socialcatfish.com came up with a new solution. If the person you’re doing business with is behaving in a way that makes you distrust them, run a reverse search on them to see their hidden online reputation. Use the search bar below to run your first search today.
