Rental Scam Awareness

Hello Irwinners,

Scams are everywhere, and although many of you are thinking "I can't get scammed, I'm not gullible" even the most street smart and savvy of us can be victims of scams. We all know about the classic "Nigerian prince" scams, but cons can be much more complex than this. For example, recently there was a scam where a person would be contacted through phone or email by someone masquerading as a CIBC or other banking representative and attempt to gain personal information from them by saying there account had fraudulent activity and they need to confirm your account. This is a scam designed to make you feel as if you are talking to a professional that is trying to help you, when in reality this is all a con. 

A scam that I have recently come across is called the "rental" scam. In this con, a rental property advertisement is created that appears to be almost to good too be true. It will have a very affordable rent, allow pets, have parking, gym facilities, utilities included, etc. This is a very easy trap to fall into because if you're like me, you've been searching for the right place for a while and an ad like this seems like an oasis in a desert! This ad, however, is a very cleverly worded attempt at a scam. 

Once contacted, the advertiser will say that they are in a professional position (like a engineer or lawyer) and are forced to move to somewhere overseas. They will say that because of this they will have to use a rental service, but don't worry! You'll have full control over the transaction, so no money will be sent until you approve. When you attempt to see the apartment however, the advertiser says that they need you to start the process by sending the money to the rental agency, and then you will get the keys to check out the apartment, if you accept you can finalize the transaction. This being a scam, it is all set up for a person to feel as if they are in control. this is what scammers want you to think, that you are in control, when in reality, they have all the power. 

In conclusion, when something is too good to be true, it is. Rental scams can be very complex, and although you may want or even need to get that apartment, remember to always keep your wits about you and NEVER, EVER, RENT AN APARTMENT WITHOUT SEEING IT IN PERSON FIRST!

Stay safe Irwinners! 

Resources:

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/index-eng.htm