Roommate Scam

Roommate Scam: How It Works

Beware of the new roommate scam happening online. It belongs to the classic list of Craigslist roommate scams and works like this. Let’s say you are looking for a roommate or a renter for your place. You post an ad online and write a blurb about what you’re looking for.

A day later, you receive a message from someone who, surprisingly enough, is precisely what you want. She says she’s moving to your town for a new job, and therefore money won’t be an issue. She’s also clean and courteous. Not only that, you both have a ton in common! After a few email exchanges, you two agree you’ll make a good team and are excited about it.

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There are two variations of this scam – let’s take a look at them below:

 

Scenario 1: Cheque For Shipping Possesions

Watch the video below to see in action the Cheque For Shipping Renter’s Possessions variation scam exposed:

Scenario 2: Extra Money for A Few Days

The second variation of the Roommate scam works like this. The sender of the message says she’s arriving on the 9th of next month but has no problem paying the full month’s rent. She mails you the cheque–but whoops! She wrote down the wrong amount. Instead of the $450 you asked for, there’s an extra zero in there: $4,500!

You let her know about the mistake. She tells you to cash it so you can pay the rent, but she asks you to wire her back the extra money, so she isn’t completely broke. You do as she asks, only to find that just a few days later that the cheque bounced, and you’re out thousands of dollars.

Craigslist Roommate Scams: How To Avoid

If someone claims that wants to move in, either ask for a new check or ask for her to wire you the money. The other option is to cash the check and wait for it to clear before sending her all your money, but that could be a valuable time you could be using to find a new roommate who isn’t trying to take you for all you’re worth.

Use only reputable websites when it comes to classifieds. However, do your diligence and review every person that you want to do business with. Craigslist roommate scams are prevalent and dangerous, as well as the plethora of moving scams out there.

Roommate Scam: How To Report

Warn your friends and family about the Roommate Scam by sharing it on social media here, using the buttons provided. You can  officially report crooks to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using the link below:

Report To The FTC Here

 

How to protect yourself more:

If you want to be the first to find out the most prevalent scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter. You’ll receive periodic messages and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, please use the comments section below to expose other Craigslist scams.

 

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