Home

9/10/09

Akron, OH – Better Business Bureau is warning renters to be on the lookout for scammers on Craigslist and other online classifieds when searching for a home. Phony ads for rental properties across the country are cropping up, and are specifically aimed at stealing money from unsuspecting renters.

More than one-third, or 36 million households in the U.S. currently rent according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Many prospective renters find homes through online classifieds. Sadly, some people who think they have found the perfect home online are being set up by scammers.

"Online classifieds have made finding rental properties much more convenient in recent years and millions of people have had successful transactions on sites like Craigslist," said Victor Wlaszyn, CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Ashland, Medina, Portage, Richland, Summit & Wayne Counties. "Unfortunately though, what is convenient for consumers if often just as convenient for scammers, who have also found a way to make a quick buck by taking advantage of unsuspecting, trusting renters all across the country."

Renters typically fall victim to this scam after responding to an online classified for a rental property. Victims say they were told by the supposed landlord that they needed to wire as much as $1,400 as a deposit and then they would receive the keys to the rental home. When the victims asked if they could check out the property first, the landlords claimed that they were out of the country and could not show the house.

As a result of this scam, many shocked homeowners have received knocks at their doors by people who were planning to move into their new rental home. Often the real homeowners have their house up for sale – not rent - and had pictures posted online that the scammers could steal for their bogus listings.

BBB advises renters of the following red flags to look out for:
• The deal sounds too good to be true. Scammers will often list a rental for a very low price to lure in victims. Find out how comparable listings are priced, and if the rental comes in suspiciously low, walk away.
• The landlord is located elsewhere and prefers to communicate via e-mail. Scammers might say they have just been relocated out of the country for a job or missionary work - don't believe it.
• The landlord requires a substantial deposit before handing over the keys or even showing the home. Don't pay any money before inspecting the home, inside and out.
• The landlord asks the renter to wire money through wire transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram. Money sent via wire transfer service is extremely difficult to retrieve and once the scammers have picked it up; there is little recourse—if any—for getting your money back.

For more advice you can trust from BBB on how to avoid common scams, visit www.bbb.org.

About BBB
BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability ReportsTM and charity BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 125 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than four million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about BBB.