Police are warning the public to be cautious of scammers trying to con cash out of people looking for homes by posing as landlords or property managers.
The RCIPS issued a statement on 3 Oct. over a “concerning series of fraudulent rental property schemes currently targeting prospective tenants”.
“We have received numerous reports of scammers posing as landlords or property managers offering apartments or houses for rent at attractive prices,” police said.
“Victims are often asked to transfer a security deposit or advance rent before viewing the property, only to discover later that the property is not available, does not exist, or is already legitimately rented out.”
The scammers advertise the properties using fake online listings on Facebook and ecayTrade, which sometimes feature photos copied from legitimate advertisements.
They communicate solely through messaging apps or email and give excuses to avoid meeting in person, such as having a sick relative or needing to leave the island urgently.
Police said victims are pressured into paying deposits quickly to “reserve” a unit, with the scammers often citing other interested parties.
The scammers then request that money is paid through untraceable channels, such as money transfer services, prepaid cards or wire transfers.
Police warn people to be particularly careful of requests to transfer funds outside the jurisdiction.
Safety tips
Police issued the following safety tips to help people avoid getting scammed:
1. Verify ownership. Ask for proof of property ownership or authorisation to rent before paying.
2. Inspect the property. Never send money without physically viewing the property.
3. Avoid untraceable payments. Always use secure and verifiable payment methods.
4. Be sceptical of ‘too good to be true’ offers. Extremely low rent is a common red flag.
5. Report suspicious activity. Contact your local police station if you encounter suspicious listings or individuals.
6. Fake identification and cloned telephone numbers. An ID and/or telephone number appearing to be local should never be accepted as authentic without verification; remember the possibility of deep fakes and cloned numbers.
7. Contact your bank immediately. if you realise that payment from or through the bank resulted from a scam.
“The RCIPS urges everyone to exercise caution when searching for rental properties. Public vigilance and timely reporting can prevent further victimisation,” police said.
For assistance or to report a suspected rental scam, contact the police at 949-4222.
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This is certainly far more prevalent than scams on road tolls!.