Chicago Rental Scams on the Radar
The BBB of Chicago and Northern IL has some details on the latest rental scams plaguing the area. It seems these days as if nothing is getting cheaper, therefore a great deal is tough to pass up.
This is how the con artist sticks around like the cockroach he or she is. Make no mistake, they thrive in an up or a down economy, but the down economy scams are somehow more sinister.
The BBB, for better or worse, definitely serves the public interest when they inform about ongoing and documented scams. Knowledge is power, and they have plenty of it.
So if you're headed to the Windy City whoe gorgeous summer weather attracts visitors from all over the country, beware of who is ready to ruin your vacation before it even gets underway.
Here, they are, just the facts ma'am , about CHI-Town summer rental scams, straight from the BBB:
· Search the property. Check out the property before paying anything. Do an online search of the property, with names, phone numbers and addresses in the ad. If you can’t find search results saying the property is for sale, it probably isn’t.
· Communicate with the agent. Talk to the agent over the phone, not via email. Be careful of foreign area codes or strange American ones. When emailing, watch for bad grammar or the person not responding.
· Don’t pay with a debit card. When submitting money, credit cards or PayPal are the safest options. Never use a debit card or wire transfer because these are the payment methods that scammers prefer.
· Verify the agent or the owner. If working with a real estate agent, always check his or her qualifications. Search licensing information for both with the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials.