How to Avoid Rental Scams

If you are a property manager or owner, be sure you check out the following tips for landlords to prevent getting scammed.

• Always meet potential renters in person and ask to see their identification.

• Do not accept money orders or cashier’s checks for an amount greater than the deposit or rental amount. If a prospective tenant tries to overpay you via cashier’s check or money order and then asks you to pay back the difference, it is a scam.

• These checks are fake and when the bank discovers it, they will come after you for the money.

• Stay informed of free listing sites your property might be on. These sites will pick up ads that you or your realtor place in the newspaper or on the Internet’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Use online search engines to find out if your property is being listed by someone other than you. You can sign up for free Google Alerts, which will send you an e-mail every time your property is placed on another site.