Scam messages coming through your phone and email are becoming an almost daily occurrence and while it’s easy to spot most of them, criminals have a way of getting the better of some people, usually at times when they are feeling most vulnerable.

Unfortunately, with rental property availability below 1 per cent in many cities, many renters are feeling the pressure at the moment. This is sadly leading to a rise in rental scams.

If you’re in the market for a rental property, here’s how to recognise an offer that isn’t genuine:

Australia’s rising rental scams

A common scam is targeting people via Facebook Marketplace.

You might happen to see a listing for a beautiful property in the right location, for around $100 less per week than you would expect to pay. When you check out the address on Google Maps, you’ll see the property does exist.

Whoever responds to your enquiry will tell you the property is available but the owner is out of town and you will need to take it without having an inspection. However, there is a lot of interest so could you please pay a deposit on the spot?

It’s easy for the excitement of securing a good rental property in a great location to take over. This, combined with the stress of missing out to someone else, overrules the alarms that would
normally be going off in the back of your head.

Most people realise they have made a mistake as soon as they have handed over the deposit. The scammer disappears and it’s very difficult to get the money back. It usually turns out that the property photos uploaded online were old listings from genuine real estate agents who have no way of knowing their advertisements have been copied in this way.

Sadly, some victims also hand over personal information such as photo ID, payslips and bank information. This opens them to even further loss or identity theft.

If you come across a fake rental listing like this, you can always contact Scamwatch to report it.

Don’t get scammed

The general rule of thumb with scams is that if it seems too good to be true, it is.

Here’s how to avoid falling victim to a fake rental property listing:

• Be wary of any situation where you are asked to pay in an unusual way, such as with money orders or gift cards

• Look out for situations where you are being pressured to act quickly. The scammers don’t want you to have the time to stop and think things through.

• Be wary of people who say they can’t meet you in person. No genuine real estate agent would pressure you to take a property without viewing it first.

• If you must rent a property sight unseen because you are interstate, for example, only do it through a reputable agent and request a live walk-through via video call

• Use trusted platforms such as realestate.com.au and domain. com.au, or look directly at a real estate agent’s website for rental property listings.

• Make sure you speak to someone on the phone, and call the agency’s office directly if you’re not convinced you are speaking with a legitimate property manager.

If you want to avoid being scammed, connect with a local property management provider. These licensed agents are qualified to ensure your rental arrangement is legitimate.

Looking for a rental property? Reach out to our rental team today at (07) 5501 4000.