“If it’s too good to be true, chances are it is.”
It’s a very simple adage, but too often people leap at what they see as a sweet deal before taking a proper look at what is being offered.
Some call it “the sniff test,” where you give what is being offered a thorough once over.
Scammers love people who don’t bother with said “sniff test;” the people who make knee jerk reactions and send money for what they see as an incredible deal, without seeing the product firsthand.
That applies to real estate these days, particularly rental properties. It’s the latest scam to hit Chatham-Kent. The con artists will rip information about a home for sale off the Internet, and post it as their own – a rental property to be had for way below market value.
And because there is a shortage of rental housing in Chatham-Kent, let alone inventory on homes for sale, people frustrated with looking for a home may jump at the opportunity without examining everything in great detail.
The biggest red light should be the inability to meet with the “owner” face to face, or to see the property in person, rather than from emails or online photographs.
A buzzer should also sound in your head if the so-called owner asks for a security deposit in advance of eventual exchange for the keys to the home.
Plus, if the price is really, really awesome, you may be dealing with a scammer.
A combination of all three warning signals means you should walk away and call police.
Yes, sometimes you can find a great deal on the rental price of a home. Just make sure everything is done above board in terms of rental agreement, face-to-face meetings, and seeing the property in person.
Admittedly, there are times when a face-to-face meeting with the owner is impossible – they may very well have moved away. But they need an agent in the area to look after their affairs. That’s who you can meet with.
Avoiding scams can at times be easy, but the con artists are coming up with new ways to try to get their hands in your pockets. Just pay attention and heed the warning signs.
