Rental scams have become a widespread problem in recent years, with scammers preying on vulnerable individuals and families who are desperately seeking affordable housing. These scams can take many different forms, but they all have the same goal: to trick people into giving up their money or personal information.
Rental Scams
One common type of housing scam involves fake rental listings. Scammers will create listings for apartments or houses that don’t actually exist, or that they don’t own. They’ll then ask for a deposit or first month’s rent upfront and disappear with the money once they receive it. Victims of these rental scams are often left with nowhere to live and no way to recover their money.
How scammers target victims
Scammers also use phishing emails, fake websites, and even social media to target their victims. They’ll create fake ads or websites that look like legitimate rental services, and then ask for personal information or payment information. Once they have this information, they can use it for identity theft or drain the victim’s bank account.
It’s important to be vigilant when searching for housing, and to take steps to protect yourself from scams.
Protect yourself from rental scams
- Don’t transfer money or give out personal information without verifying the legitimacy of the rental listing or landlord.
- Be wary of ads that seem too good to be true, such as extremely low rent or high-end amenities at a low price.
- Do research on the rental market in the area to ensure the listing is priced competitively.
- Check the property and landlord’s information against public records to verify their legitimacy. When you have an agent’s CEA registration number, name, or mobile number, you can verify his details via the Public Register on the CEA website or CEA@SG mobile app.
- Use reputable rental listing websites and services that have a proven track record of legitimacy.
To prevent yourself from devastating consequences, be vigilant and take steps to protect yourself. You can avoid falling prey to these scams and find safe and legitimate housing. Remember to always verify the legitimacy of the listing and landlord, do your research, and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.