BEWARE OF REPLIES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES - Never return money or give change from a bank check or money order.
Never accept money orders from overseas prospects who want to lease sight unseen and then want you to wire them back change in the thousands of dollars. These are counterfeit money orders or bank checks.
These emails are often from another country in particular the UK or East Africa. They are eager to rent your home sight unseen and they are in a hurry to send you a money order or bank check, sometimes a full year in advance. These money orders look real but they are counterfeit. Don't deposit any funds until you have received a completed rental application and verified the information!
Just because you can withdraw the money doesn't mean the check is good, even if it’s a cashier’s check. You are responsible for the checks you deposit. Banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, including criminal prosecution in some cases!
REPORT FAKE CHECK SCAMS - SOME SUGGESTIONS:
Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov
FTC Toll free hotline 877-FTC-HELP or www.ftc.gov
Canadian PhoneBusters hotline 888-485-8501
*Do not even respond to inquires from abroad from someone wanting to send you money without seeing the property first.
*The scammers say they are from out of the country, usually the UK and never have many questions about your rental. Always have an applicant fill out a rental application. Always run a credit check. |
