Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Coal Region Canary
Coal Region CanaryCoal Region Canary

PA News

Pennsylvania Attorney General Issues Warning on Growing Threat of Rental Scams

Online rental ads may not be what they seem.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry is cautioning Pennsylvanians about deceptively authentic-looking rental scams on the rise.

As the summer season approaches, many individuals, notably college students in need of housing arrangements for the Fall, could fall prey to the cunning tactics of these fraudsters.

Scammers place seemingly genuine ads for rental properties, skillfully manipulating existing ads from legitimate real estate listings or posing as the actual realtors via compromised email accounts.

Henry also warns that some scams are designed around properties not currently on the market, another deceitful tactic to bamboozle unsuspecting tenants.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1658728627906147

The fraudsters, through these manipulated ads, engage with potential renters during what appears to be a routine application process. During this stage, they gather sensitive personal information and may also manage to illegally procure security deposits and rent payments.

A red flag indicative of these scams, according to Henry, is when a supposed landlord refuses to meet in person or show the property.

“If a landlord refuses to meet in person and show the property, that is usually a strong indicator of a scam,” the Attorney General pointed out.

Among the precautionary measures suggested by the Attorney General’s office to safeguard against these scams are:

  • Not proceeding with rental agreements without physically inspecting the property.
  • Verifying the identity of the person you are dealing with.
  • Avoiding the wiring of payments for application, security deposit, or first month’s rent.
  • Refraining from purchasing gift cards for payment.
  • Not divulging your Social Security number without solid identity verification.

Subscribe to Coal Region Canary

Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!
Loading

News Tips?

Let us know of news happening in your area. Use our NEWS TIPS ENTRY FORM
Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1658728627906147
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More From The Canary

Local News

Woman arrested Friday was home health care worker allegedly providing meth to patient.

Local News

Where does your school rank in the county, state, and nationally?

Local Business News

Food, crafters, and artists among those setting up shop this weekend.

Local News

The latest info on the growing tropical threat ...

Local News

The phishing operation carried on for 2 years.

Local News

Justice Dept. says Javier Guzman dealt "high-quality" meth in the area in 2022.

Local Sports

Pottsville native led team in home runs and RBI.

Local News

Heavy rain still expected here, though maybe not as much as previously forecasted.

Schuylkill County Police News

The world's gone mad.

Schuylkill County Police News

The crash happened on Brockton Mountain Rd. in Ryan Twp.

Schuylkill County Police News

A search of the mall came up empty for a bomb.

PA News

The election would be 5 weeks sooner than it's currently scheduled.

Advertisement https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1658728627906147