Many people believe that they can easily detect and avoid scams after reading about them in forums, but this is not always the case. Even if you are vigilant, there are warning signs that can slip past you. To help tenants know how to better avoid potential listing scams, and help property managers appear open and trustworthy throughout the entire rental process, here is a list of common signs of scams.

1. The Price is Unrealistically Low

In most cases, if a rental property's price seems too good to be true, it likely is. As a potential tenant, you can compare the prices of similar listings in the area to help gauge its believability. Experienced property managers compare the prices of properties they represent against others in the same vicinity to ensure that their listing is fair and reasonable.

2. The listing is unclear and not well written.

Not only does the listing's price seem too good to be true, but upon closer inspection, you may notice that the property lacks detail and professional photos. In addition, scam postings are often riddled with misspellings and grammatical errors. On the other hand, trustworthy property managers will upload listings that are clear, informative, and thoroughly proofread. To further protect your properties from being scammed it's also a good idea to watermark all of the photos used in each listing.

3. Research is Inadequate

To ensure you're not scammed, read reviews from other tenants about their experience with the property manager and management company. You should also verify that the property is not in foreclosure and that the person renting it to you has legal rights to do so. To double-check, look up who owns the property in question through your county recorder's office.

4. The manager is too busy to meet.

Scammers will take advantage of anyone they can, asking for money expediently and with as little detail as possible. If a property manager tries to stop you from seeing the rental space before signing any papers, that should raise a red flag. Scammers don't want to meet in person because it's easier for their victims to see right through them face-to-face. It's always a good idea to visit the property and meet the manager beforehand so you can get a feel for whether or not it's really the right place for you - this goes doubly so if there's potential that the listing might be fraudulent. If potential tenants want to see a property and meet the person who made the listing, it would be beneficial for them not to come alone. Bringing a friend or family member would provide an extra layer of security, just in case.

5. They only accept cash as payment.

Property managers who are legitimate will let tenants pay with checks in order to leave a trail of the transaction. This way, if any financial questions come up, banks can easily follow the breadcrumbs back to the source. On the other hand, scammers tend to ask for payment in cash because it's more difficult to track than other methods. Since criminals rely on anonymity to avoid being caught, be weary of landlords who only want cash payments.

6. The property manager isn't keen on sending a written agreement.

While some states permit verbal agreements, it is always best for both tenants and property managers to have a written lease. This document establishes terms and qualifications that everyone is on the same page (no pun intended), and can be kept as a physical record. After the lease is finalized, both tenant and landlord should sign copies of it and keep them for future reference—reading the entire agreement thoroughly before agreeing to their partnership. By doing so, they will avoid any possible legal issues down the road.

Being vigilant is always the best policy to avoid being scammed, and if you follow the steps above carefully, You will be able to spot most rental fraud very easily.

If you're a victim of rental fraud, the most important thing you can do is notify law enforcement and report as many details as possible. This information may be crucial in preventing someone else from falling victim to that scammer. You may also want to contact an attorney who can help you understand how you were scammed and what the best course of action is. Another good idea is to get in touch with tenant's rights groups or property manager organizations local to you. Hence, they are aware of the situation and see if they can offer any assistance.

Protect yourself from rental scams by working with an experienced property manager, like Torey Eisenman. She is a Florida-licensed real estate broker and general contractor. Contact us today for more information about safe rental listings.