JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you are looking for a new place to rent, the Federal Trade Commission warns you need to watch for rental scams.
The agency has seen a rise in reports of people stumbling across listings for homes that either do not exist or the property does exist but the person who listed it is not the owner and the home is not for rent.
These scams can appear in online community groups, including sites like Facebook Marketplace.
The listings may look convincing, including pictures and detailed information about the home. These can be especially hard to weed out if you’re shopping in an area you’re unfamiliar with.
The FTC says in most cases, the scammer rushes you into paying an application fee, deposit, or first month’s rent.
Then, they promise to give you the keys -- before disappearing.
There are steps to protect yourself while looking for a rental.
First, always search the address, along with the name of the person or rental company listed. If you see separate ads for the same home but from a different company, it’s probably a scam.
Also, go directly to the rental company’s website. If the property you’re interested in isn’t listed there, it’s a scam.
And NEVER pay for a rental you’ve never seen. Nobody legit will ask you to pay in advance.
Another reminder, you won’t be asked to pay by gift card or cryptocurrency. Those are always signs of a scam.
Last year, the News4JAX I-TEAM looked into a similar scam involving homes for rent in our area.
We found a rental listed on Facebook Marketplace but after checking the address we learned the home was not for rent and the person who listed it was not the owner.
I-TEAM: Looking to rent a home? Spot these red flags online & don’t get duped