It begins with websites offering property owners free listings for apartments and homes to rent. Some of the listings are real, many are not. Anyone interested in the property is then asked for personal information, supposedly to check those potential tenants for credit worthiness. Those people are then informed that they have passed that hurdle but, because there have been so many successful applicants for that particular property, if they wish to view it they will have to secure "first right of refusal." A fee, supposedly refundable, is required.
To make the deal all the more appealing, some of the suspected websites even carry a warning about these same types of frauds.
One way of detecting these frauds is by looking at the property owner's details. Frequently they are out of state and, at times, even out of the country. Return phone numbers are also, often, permanently on voice mail or fax numbers.
In any case, legitimate real estate brokers offering property for sale or rent do not ask for viewing fees.
One way of detecting these frauds is by looking at the property owner's details. Frequently they are out of state and, at times, even out of the country. Return phone numbers are also, often, permanently on voice mail or fax numbers.
In any case, legitimate real estate brokers offering property for sale or rent do not ask for viewing fees.
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