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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns tenants to avoid scammers offering to make rental payments. The FTC reports an increase of scams involving tenants in distress during the pandemic. Scammers may offer assistance with rent payments or legal aid to avoid eviction.
Requiring tenants to pay money or provide personal information before assistance can be given is, according to the FCC, “a dead giveaways that it’s a scam.” In addition, they recommend:
• Never give your Social Security, bank account, credit card, or debit card number to anyone who contacts you. And even if you’re the one reaching out, do your research on the organization first, before you share your info.
• If you look online for help with your rent, search for the name of the groups you find, plus the words “scam,” “fraud,” or “complaint,” to see what others are saying. Do that before you contact them.
• If you spot a rental assistance scam like this, please tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
We are here to help you and your clients with all aspects of the rental market. Please contact us for further assistance!
Nothing found herein should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a legal opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of law. You should not rely solely on this information. We encourage our clients to work with a lawyer experienced in commercial and/or residential real estate matters as they can be complicated and confusing.
