Moving is stressful, especially in a city like Boston. The city's high cost of living makes finding affordable housing nearly impossible. Many scammers take advantage of the market by creating fake rental listings. However, with the right precautions, you can avoid getting scammed. Here are some tips to help you out:
Keep a lookout for unrealistic offers.
If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is! Avoid ads that have spelling errors, or overuse capitalizations (it's common for scammers to try to lure potential renters by making their listings stand out). These are usually signs of a scammer trying hard (but failing miserably) at being legit. Scammers often ask for deposits that are large, then take your money and disappear before you even arrive at the property.
Verify the legitimacy of the agents and websites.
Check the URL to make sure it's a credible website. If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is. Look for signs that might indicate a scam, including domain names that look like they were created in five minutes (e.g., cnnrealestateagent19@gmail.), emails with poor grammar or lots of exclamation points, and unprofessional business practices (e.g., asking you to pay via Western Union). If you're unsure about whether or not a site is legitimate, do your research before sending any money! For example, Google search "company name+scam" to see what others have said about them online.
Ask for proof of license/ID from real estate agents who contact you about rentals over the phone or online—and then verify this information yourself.
If you're looking for a rental property, be sure to do your research online before meeting with any agents and get a feel for what fair market prices are in the area by checking out listings online.
Visit the property before sending over any money.
Visiting a property in person is one of the most important things you can do to avoid scam rentals. If you don't want to pay for travel expenses, consider asking a friend or family member who lives nearby if they would be willing to check out the place for you.
When you visit the property in person, take a good look around. Walk through every room and make sure there aren't any major problems. If there are, talk to the landlord about them before signing anything.
If the landlord won't fix a big problem, then it's probably not worth renting the property. You may also want to bring along someone else, like a trusted friend or relative, who can help you with this process. The more eyes on the place, the more likely you'll spot something that might be wrong.
Scams are everywhere.
It's best to take all measures to protect yourself, even when it comes to something as simple as finding a place to live. Here are some tips for avoiding rental scams:
- Use a reputable website or app
- Make sure you visit the property and have a copy of the paperwork before you send any money
- Never wire funds or pay for an apartment without seeing it first—even if the photos look great
Avoiding rental scams can be challenging, but you can take measures to protect yourself. Do your research, ask questions, and be vigilant in identifying red flags.
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