How the scam works:
(with video) This is a new one to the world of scamming but apparently the game stakes are rising as people are taking legitimate real estate professionals and using their names to place bogus rent ads on Kijiji, Oodle, Gumtree, or Craigslist.
Essentially these people are verifying themselves with another's credentials, listing a home for sale (using a name of a legitimate realtor in your city) and asking for substantial amounts of money to be wired as a rent deposit. This is very sneaky and tough to detect because everything seems legal up front.
Watch the video below to see a different variation of this real estate scam, exposed.
Real Estate Scam Exposed Video
How to avoid the Fake Real Estate Agent scam:
Take an extra step and verify everything from double sources, as soon as you are asked for a deposit without even seeing the property. Follow the proper procedures when putting down deposits: meet with the realtor, visit the property, see some paperwork, make sure it's all as advertised, never wire money.
How to report the Fake Real Estate Agent scam:
Make your family and friends aware of this scam by sharing it on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:
How to protect yourself more:
If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You'll receive periodical emails and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers.
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Fake Landlord Renting Property
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