Imagine moving into a place and then finding out you were scammed, and the place actually isn’t for rent.
It can happen, and it does, according to the CEO of the Saskatchewan Realtors Association.
The SRA along with the Saskatchewan Landlord Association and the Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan are cautioning renters about the increasing frequency of online scams.
Chris Guerette explains that a scammer will impersonate a rental housing provider, copying photos from online real estate websites and republish them with their own ad.
They will promise keys and access to the unit in exchange for an e-transfer of a security deposit, rent, or both, before you have seen the place.
Guerette says often the scammer will say they aren’t in town and aren’t able to show the home.
She advises not to rent a property you haven’t seen.
Most often, once the scammer gets the money, they disappear, but sometimes it goes a step further.
If they know a house is empty, they may ask the renter to get a locksmith to change the locks promising they will reimburse you, so the renters move in, only to find out that they have been scammed when the owners or a real estate agent finds them in the home.
Guerette says scammers shift their tactics constantly and are becoming increasingly savvy, capitalizing on the fact that there may be a shortage of rentals.
Their rental price may seem to be good to be true, and it is.
The advice is never to send money to a rental housing provider until you have viewed the property and signed a tenancy agreement. Connect with the provider by phone or in person to ensure they are legitimate, and that the property is actually for rent, and don’t be afraid to ask questions, including asking for identification.