Online advertising has proven to be a profitable avenue for many legitimate business institutions due to the very nature of the Internet and its global user base. For the very same reason fraudsters often prowl the Internet looking for opportunities to defraud innocent victims.

Property Rental Scams

Online advertising services, such as craiglist.com offer its members free advertising opportunities. Members can register for free membership and post any advertisement online.

How fraudsters operate

Fraudsters of the property rental scam advertise property for rent at incredibly low monthly premiums. People interested in renting the property is requested to reply to an email address or prepaid mobile phone number.

Once a victim contacts the fraudsters, they are informed that they will be awarded the rental contract. Fraudsters will inform the victims that they are not in town and will not be able to show the premises to the clients in person. The fraudsters will request the victims to send a copy of their credit report as well as one month’s rental premium in advance in order to secure the rental contract.

Victims will later find that either the property did not exist or the actual property was never available for rent.

They fraudsters will also not be traced again.

Protecting oneself from these scams

It is highly advised that victims always ensure that they first view the premises and question neighbors.

Secondly, never deal with a person only providing a prepaid mobile number and email address as contact information. Always ensure that you obtain a physical address and landline phone number for the person advertising the property and verify the validity thereof.

A victim should always ensure that they deposit the funds into a bank account belonging to the advertiser. Do not send money to any person using money-wire or postal order services.