{"id":49,"date":"2017-09-14T14:21:15","date_gmt":"2017-09-14T14:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.turbotenant.com\/?page_id=49"},"modified":"2025-10-23T11:17:52","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T18:17:52","slug":"rental-scams","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.turbotenant.com\/rental-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Rental Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"49\" class=\"elementor elementor-49\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e5b027a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e5b027a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5e6d0a3\" data-id=\"5e6d0a3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f043ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6f043ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large\">Avoiding Rental Scams 101<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e81221 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"3e81221\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d685cb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d685cb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our mission...<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7551c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7551c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>is to empower <strong>independent landlords<\/strong> to create welcoming rental experiences through <strong>positive interactions<\/strong> with their tenants.<\/p><p>The rental experience begins the moment a property manager decides to fill a vacancy and a renter starts their rental search. Often, the early stages of the rental process are when rental scams are most viable.<\/p><p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.turbotenant.com\/\">TurboTenant<\/a>, we\u2019re dedicated to protecting both property owners and renters from rental scams \u2013 a situation that is never positive for anyone.<\/p><p>How does TurboTenant help you avoid rental scams? Here are a handful of our anti-fraud processes:<\/p><ul><li>Verify all real estate listings before marketing them online<\/li><li>Utilize machine learning to help identify fraudulent rental property listings<\/li><li>Educating on housing scams, as well as best practices for background checks and credit checks<\/li><li>Partnering with leaders in the financial industry such as <a href=\"https:\/\/stripe.com\/docs\/security\/stripe?utm_campaign=User%20Engagement&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz--YaU5lEQuiJL8Ejvyl66dxMUIIpGmXFvSxzfcIHPRA-O5KBvpPRGnlQWbywv3P2S-kTelj\">Stripe<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/plaid.com\/security\/\">Plaid<\/a> to keep payment information private<\/li><\/ul><p>Learn how to protect yourself today using our landlord and renter tips below.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d65aa34 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d65aa34\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Rental Scam Tips For Landlords:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b1b065 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5b1b065\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Common rental scams don\u2019t just put potential renters at risk, but can also affect the landlord or property owner.<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be very cautious of potential tenants who&#8230;<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are willing to rent your property without seeing it in person or completing a video tour first<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">say they are out of the country and want to send a cashier\u2019s check<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">provide an initial payment or first month&#8217;s rent that is more than the agreed-upon price<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">try to instill a sense of urgency<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.turbotenant.com\/tenant-screening\/\">Always screen tenants<\/a> to check their credit history, criminal background, and eviction history.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never accept a check that is more than the agreed-upon amount. Do not deposit it, and return it immediately.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make your screening criteria public to help ward off scammers.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow up with references.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verify employment.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b38250 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0b38250\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Rental Scam Tips For Renters:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c199a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1c199a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Don\u2019t get desperate or impatient when apartment hunting, because that\u2019s when red flags can fly by unnoticed.<\/p><ul><li>Be very cautious of property managers or rental agents who&#8230;<ul><li>come up with a reason or excuse for why they are not able to meet you in person<\/li><li>refuse to give you a phone number or speak with you over the phone<\/li><li>ask you to make a payment upfront, and in return, they will mail you the keys<\/li><li>ask you to send money to a location that is not in the local area of the rental property<\/li><li>ask you to make a payment to an account that is outside the United States<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Be very cautious if the property seems \u201ctoo good to be true\u201d \u2013 it probably is. The following should be a red flag for fake listings:<ul><li>an unrealistically low price for the monthly rent<\/li><li>little or no security deposit<\/li><li>accepts pets, short-term leases, or is furnished for no additional fee<\/li><li>requires no tenant screening, credit check, background check, or application<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Be wary if the rental ad contains numerous typos and\/or grammatical errors.<\/li><li>Always physically see the property and\/or meet the landlord or someone at the management company before sending any money.<\/li><li>Always speak to the landlord before applying and paying the rental application fee.<\/li><li><strong>Never (ever) wire transfer money.<\/strong> This is a sure sign that you\u2019re encountering a scam. Wired money cannot be retrieved, just like cash.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d5c10f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d5c10f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reporting Rental Scams\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26a870a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"26a870a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00ea9b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"00ea9b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re aware of a rental listing or other rental scam, you can <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ic3.gov\/complaint\/default.aspx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">report it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you suspect or are aware that a rental listing posted on TurboTenant is a fake ad, please click the \u201cReport Listing\u201d link on the listing page or email us the details at: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"mailto: badlisting@turbotenant.com\">badlisting@turbotenant.com<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more information on using the TurboTenant website, please visit our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.turbotenant.com\/terms-of-use\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Terms of Use<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.turbotenant.com\/privacy-policy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Privacy Policy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn even more about how rental listing scams work from the FTC <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumer.ftc.gov\/articles\/0079-rental-listing-scams\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Avoiding Rental Scams 101 Our mission&#8230; is to empower independent landlords to create welcoming rental experiences through positive interactions with their tenants. The rental experience begins the moment a property manager decides to fill a vacancy and a renter starts their rental search. Often, the early stages of the rental process are when rental scams [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-49","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v26.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Rental Scams 101: Top Tips For Avoiding Rental Housing Scams<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Don&#039;t fall prey to a rental scam. 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