While the internet has made many things easier for the average person – such as searching for new rental properties to lease – it has also made it easier for scammers to take advantage of those looking for great deals on rentals. While browsing the internet searching for houses or apartments to rent, make sure to be on the alert for scams. If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is! We have experienced our property photos and ads being copied and the terms being changed, especially the price being drastically lowered, just for the scammer to charge a fake application fee and then get away with a potential tenant’s money and personal information.
Unfortunately, there really isn’t anything we can do, except stress to potential tenants to be careful and to flag these scams as they see them. Ask questions or even ask for photos to see if they match up. DO NOT give out your personal information or hand over money without verifying that the landlord/management company is legit.
For Wolf & Kline properties, we do not use Facebook Marketplace, so beware of any properties you see both there and on our website. Though we advertise some of our properties on our Facebook page, we do not charge an application fee and we will always redirect you to our website, www.wolfkline.com to fill out the application and to view the complete details of our available properties. The same goes for Zillow, Craigslist, etc. While the internet can bring lots of useful information to your fingertips, when it comes to finding your future home, make sure you do your research before handing over any money or personal information to potential scammers.
