Internet Fraud Tips
Rentprov.com is strictly an advertising venue for people looking to place third party ads. The website is in no way affiliated with any type of real estate transaction, and we do not rent out our own property or any property for anyone else. Rentprov.com does not provide any type of service that handles monies in any way for tenants and landlords including handling deposits, processing rents, escrowing monies, or taking any money for any reason relating to any property seen on the website. Rentprov.com asks that all people who use this site use common sense. Please use caution and safe trading practices when using the website. All people who visit this site understand that they are responsible for their own actions, and that Rentprov.com is in no way responsible for any fraudulent activity in connection with any aspect of our site. There are many types of internet fraud and below we have listed some of the schemes that we have seen when it comes to fraud associated with internet apartment rental.
Cashier Check Scheme
This is the most common apartment scam that we have seen.
The way that this works is that you receive an e-mail from someone that is usually from another country, although they may also say that they are from this country. The e-mail will tell you that they want your apartment, commercial space, room for rent, or anything else that we offer. In the e-mail they ask to send you a cashiers check even though they have never seen your place. They then mail you the check and when you cash it the check will bounce because it is a fake (although it looks real).
Although this can’t be verified, we have heard that they will then get your routing numbers because they also receive some sort of notification when the check bounces. They will then try and take money from your account.
DO NOT ACCEPT CASHIERS CHECKS FROM PEOPLE THAT YOU DO NOT MEET FACE TO FACE. DO NOT ACCEPT CASHIERS CHECKS FROM BANKS THAT YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE.
Nigerian Letter Scheme
This scheme is one of the older schemes on the internet and you may have received one of these in the past. What happens is that you will receive an e-mail alerting you that for some reason an extremely wealthy person that you have never met needs to send you an extremely large sum of money so that you can help them. They then tell you that they will give you a percentage of the money if you will hold it and give it to them at a later date. You will then receive a cashiers check as mentioned above and we know what to do with them right?
DO NOT ACCEPT CASHIERS CHECKS FROM PEOPLE THAT YOU DO NOT MEET FACE TO FACE. DO NOT ACCEPT CASHIERS CHECKS FROM BANKS THAT YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE.
Account Verification Scheme
This scheme works by sending you an e-mail requesting that you re-verify information about your account. When you click on the e-mail the scammers have designed mock websites that look like the real thing. It happens a lot with Ebay, and certain banks. Rentprov.com doesn’t have any information, except for a name, number, and e-mail, and we will never ask to verify your information. We do not have any service that uses credit cards so you will never be asked for any credit card information from us. Always look at the URL to see if it is the same as the site that is supposedly being verified.
There are many scams that people try and pull. Rentprov.com recommends that you always use caution when dealing with people both on the internet as well as when you meet them. If something looks to good to be true then in almost every case it usually is.
Some signs that someone may be trying to scam you
- We have all heard the old adage that when things sound to good to be true they probably are. Well it is no different here.
- If someone is in another country, or another state trying to rent an apartment and can’t speak to you by phone.
- If someone is asking you for credit card information or any other type of personal information in the name of Rentprov.com. (We do not take any money from tenants ever!)
- If someone you have never met wants you to wire money, send a cashiers check, or use any other type of escrow service.
- These are apartments. If they can’t meet you face to face and show you the place and get the relevant information something may be wrong.
Other useful sites for internet fraud
www.ftc.govwww.ic3.gov
www.fraud.org
Please help us keep this site safe for all users.