64% Of Renters Have Come Across a Rental Scam

November 30, 2009 at 8:36 pm | In Rental Scams | Leave a Comment

According to our most recent rentBits.com survey of 1000 renters, 64% of them said they came across an ad or received an email that they suspected to be a rental scam. 4% of the renters said they were a victim of the scam.

rental scam emails

rental scams

Top Rental Scam Video

July 28, 2009 at 3:26 pm | In Rental Scams | Leave a Comment

The rental scam video for homes for rent and apartments with the most views so far has been “The Real Hustle (US): Apartment Scam”. The video is embedded below:

What is RentalScams.org?

January 22, 2009 at 4:43 pm | In Rental Scams | 2 Comments

Our mission is to educate renters, property managers, agents and owners on the many different types of rental scams that are on the internet today.

The only way to defeat scammers is by eliminating their economic incentives to continue scamming. We feel, through education, we can accomplish this goal.

The Sponsor Rental Scam

September 25, 2008 at 5:21 pm | In Known Rental Scammers, Rental Scams | 11 Comments

We received a letter from a reader notifying us of a scammer who said the have a sponsor. This is how the scam works.

  1. Scammer contacts home owner
  2. Scammer says they will be living in the states for 2 years and that a large company is sponsoring them
  3. Scammer send Fake Cashiers check for a large sum of money.
  4. Scammer asks if home owner can send the remaining money to their sponsor via a wire
  5. Fake cashiers check is not noticed as fake and the home owner wires remaing funds to scammer

The reader contacted this individual and below is the conversation.

Subject: Re: $1295 / 3br – Adorable Single Family Home (Williamstown) (map)
To: natal85_blige88@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Friday, 19 September, 2008, 2:42 PM

hI,
HOW ARE YOU. i WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU RENT MY HOME. hOWEVER i WOULD NEED SOME CONFIRMATION FROM THE ELI LILLY COMPANY THAT THIS IS THE ARRANGEMENT. i WOULD NEED TO HAVE A NUMBER TO CONTACT THEM. IN THE NORMAL CONTRACT i REVEIW QUALIFICATIONS OF THE APPLICANT TO PAY BUT THAT WOULD BE QUITE DIFFERENT FOR YOU.
IF YOU COULD FURNISH ME A CONTACT THERE TO CONFIRM ALL OF THESE DETAILS I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. PLEASE RESPOND SOON AS I DO HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING AT THIS HOME.
THANK YOU
————– Original message ————–
From: natal blige <natal85_blige88@yahoo.co.uk>

Good day,
I really appreciate your response and details provided, my sponsors (Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals) have agreed on the monthly fees to be paid for the next two years on my behalf. Therefore, they agreed to pay up front the amount of ($3238 PAYMENT FOR THE FIRST MONTH RENT PLUS DEPOSIT STARTING FROM MY MOVING IN DATE WHICH WILL BE ON THE 4TH OF OCTOBER); also since I will be staying for two years, the company has agreed to pay in a monthly installation. Furthermore, I would like you to know a US Cashier che que will be issued to you in an excess amount by my sponsors for the first month rent, security deposit and my travelling expenses; the excess amount will be sent to me immediately as soon as you receive payment from my sponsors.
However, the information below is required from you by my sponsors to have payment sent to you immediately in order for you to hold down this property until I arrive;

 

NAME ON US CASHIER CHEQUE
 

FULL CONTACT ADDRESS
 

HOME PHONE NUMBER
 

MOBILE NUMBER
 

 

Finally, I would like to know how peaceful is the neighbourhood and how close is the property from the bus/train station as I will be leaving on the 3rd and arriving on the 4th of October. My main purpose of relocating is based on my research proposal on Pharmaceutical industries (Financial Analysis); and I was granted a part time sponsorship on my accommodation and travel expense. Also all necessary Paper work will be treated by me when I arrive and set to move into th e property.  

I await the details soonest for payment, so I can start my moving in plans ASAP.
 

Regards
 

Natal Blige 

— On Tue, 16/9/08, wrote:

Subject: Re: $1295 / 3br – Adorable Single Family Home (Williamstown) (map)
To: natal85_blige88@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tuesday, 16 September, 2008, 3:03 PM

Hi,
the rent is 1295.00 per month and the deposit would be 1 1/2 month security.
is is a very cute house and nice neighborhood.
——- Original message ————–
From: natal blige <natal85_blige88@yahoo.co.uk>
Good day Sir/ Madam,
My name is Natal Blige; I am 24 years of age and a citizen of the United Kingdom and will be relocating for a short period of two years on a research programme to the United States . As I was reviewing rental adverts, I got particularly interested in your property, I would like you to email me pictures, and I would also like to know the exact fees to be paid monthly and the security deposit in order for me to pass information to my sponsors.
Thanks for your assistance.
Cheers6

Craigslist Rental Scams

September 24, 2008 at 9:21 pm | In Rental Scams, Tips to Avoid Scams | 83 Comments
Tags:

Today there are 608,000 webpages that mention Craigslist rental scams. There have been 41 newspaper stories this week on Craigslist rental scams. And over 6,457 blogs have written about Craigslist rental scams.

The good news is we are starting to get the word out about rental scams. The bad news is, rental scams are continuing to increase and not just on Craigslist but across the internet.

We need to take action. We need to hit the scammers where it hurts the most, through economics.

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