In my previous post “The Do’s and Don’ts of Renting Apartments in New York“ I discussed how to go about searching for your new apartment in New York. In this article will focus on how to spot rental scams for apartments in New York. We live today unfortunately where each movement we make is based on our technology. We read our news off the internet, we use our mobile phones to locate friends and use GPS guidance when we travel. On the flip side the internet can be used against as well.
Hopefully a few that are visiting this website have encounter dismay when searching for an apartment. But for those that have not there are a few tips on spotting rental scams for apartments in New York. Being savvy when you’re in search of a rental takes some extra effort, but with your money at stake, it’s well worth it. Here are some signs you may be dealing with a scam:
- They want you to wire money. This is the surest sign of a scam. There’s never a good reason to wire money to pay a security deposit, application fee, or first month’s rent. Wiring money is the same as sending cash — once you send it, you have no way to get it back.
- They want a security deposit or first month’s rent before you’ve met or signed a lease. It’s never a good idea to send money to someone you’ve never met in person for an apartment you haven’t seen. If you can’t visit an apartment or house yourself, ask someone you trust to go and confirm that it’s for rent. In addition to setting up a meeting, do a search on the landlord and listing. If you find the same ad listed under a different name, that’s a clue it may be a scam.
- They say they’re out of the country. But they have a plan to get the keys into your hands. It might involve a lawyer or “agent” working on their behalf. Some scammers even create fake keys. Be skeptical, and don’t send money overseas. If you can’t meet in person, see the apartment, or sign a lease before you pay, keep looking.
