{"id":3680,"date":"2024-03-11T10:10:34","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T15:10:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rentals.ca\/blog\/?p=3680"},"modified":"2024-05-01T12:57:38","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T16:57:38","slug":"how-to-avoid-these-common-rental-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rentals.ca\/blog\/how-to-avoid-these-common-rental-scams","title":{"rendered":"How to Avoid These Common Rental Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the demand for rental properties continues to grow, so does the creativity of scammers seeking to exploit eager renters. According to the <\/span>Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)<\/span><\/a>, Canadians lost $23 million more to fraud and scams between 2022 and 2023 – this number includes rental scams. With the use of digital marketing and rental marketplaces, spotting rental scams has become harder over time. In this blog, we will discuss the most common rental scams and how to avoid falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.<\/span>

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The Most Common Rental Scams in Canada<\/h2>
  1. What Is A Rental Scam?<\/a><\/li>
  2. Fake Listings<\/a><\/li>
  3. Let Us Review Some Real Examples Of Scams You May Encounter.\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
  4. Bait-And-Switch Scams<\/a><\/li>
  5. Identity Theft<\/a><\/li>
  6. Additional Finance Scams<\/a><\/li>
  7. Lack of Lease Agreement<\/a><\/li>
  8. Pressure Tactics<\/a><\/li>
  9. Tip: Speak With Current Tenants<\/a><\/li>
  10. How to Report a Rental Scam<\/a><\/li>
  11. Additional Information<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n<\/p><\/a>

    1. What Is A Rental Scam?<\/h3>

    A <\/span>rental scam<\/span><\/a> is when a property is misrepresented in an attempt to gain money from an unsuspecting prospective renter. There are many ways scammers will try and obtain your funds, but the main facet of these listing scams is often fake properties. Once the scammer has received your money, they will disappear – leaving you with empty hands and an empty wallet.<\/span><\/p>

     <\/p><\/a>

    2. Fake Listings<\/h3>

    Fraudulent listings use fake properties that do not exist, are not available, or are copied from a real landlord to attract renters to a place under illegitimate ownership. The information included in these listings is often fake or copied from either related listings or the original. Often, these listings will feature lower asking rents compared to similar buildings in order to make the price seem too good to be true. They have also altered the contact information to appear as a legitimate landlord. Once in contact, they will say that there is a lot of interest in the property and you need to pay a deposit to secure the apartment. Any situation where you are asked to pay deposits and fees upfront is suspicious. Other signs of a fake listing are bad spelling and grammar, blurry or low-quality images, and requesting payments be made through untraceable methods.<\/span><\/p>

     <\/p><\/a>

    3. Let Us Review Some Real Examples Of Scams You May Encounter. <\/h3>

    Scenario 1:<\/b> Landlord is out of the country and requesting payment from a third party before viewing the property. Priced very low. The individual is requesting a lot of unnecessary information.<\/span><\/p>

    \"\"\"\"<\/p>

    Scenario 2: The <\/b>Landlord is out of the country and requesting payment from a third party before viewing the property. Priced very low. Offering to ship the keys after they receive payment.<\/span><\/p>

    \"\"\"\"<\/p>

     <\/p>

    How To Avoid:<\/h4>