Military Members Warned of Rental Scams During Moves

Military moves can be both exciting and stressful, whether they are planned months in advance or happen at the last minute. The last thing needed during this time is a rental scam to increase the stress level. To avoid this, it's essential to know how to spot fake rental listings.

Rental scams often involve fake listings that are designed to look like they are from a real landlord or property manager. These listings may be posted on websites or social media platforms, and they may even include photos and details about the property. However, the goal of these scams is to get the military member to send money to the scammer, often in the form of a deposit or first month's rent.

To spot a rental scam, military members should be cautious of listings that seem too good to be true, such as a property that is significantly cheaper than similar properties in the area. They should also be wary of landlords or property managers who are pushy or evasive, and who demand payment before the military member has seen the property.

Another red flag is a listing that requires the military member to wire money or use a prepaid debit card to pay the deposit or rent. Legitimate landlords and property managers will not require this, and it's a sign that the listing is a scam.

Military members can also check the listing against other listings in the area to see if it seems legitimate. They can also contact the landlord or property manager directly to ask questions and get a feel for whether the listing is real.