Renting scams?

Question

I'm trying to get a new roommate for my apartment (online) and some of the responses I've gotten seem fake...like foreign people saying they want to live there when they move without seeing it...I just got a response saying she wants to pay with cashier's check...so are these scams (if so, how does it work) or just people who are bored and are faking it for fun or what's the deal? How do I find a good roommate anyway? I'm running out of time!

Answer 1

There are numerous variations on scams that involve checks (including casher's checks) and money orders. The goal is always to entice you to deposit a check or money order into your bank account. Then there's some reason why you are asked to pay part or all of it back to the person who sent it or a related party. Either they sent too much money "by mistake" or maybe they no longer want to be your roommate and want a refund.

The scam is that the check or money order is really no good. It's forged or printed on stolen stock. But it's good enough to pass the first level of tests at your bank, so they deposit it and give you access to the funds even though it hasn't really cleared through the banking system yet. This is the key. Most banks will do this for their customers.

Then the bank finds out two weeks later that the check was no good after all and reverses the deposit. But you've already sent some or all of the money back to the scammer.

Your bank account is now overdrawn and your bank may think that you've deliberately tried to commit fraud. In the worst case you're not only out the money, but you may be prosecuted as a criminal.

It's a terrible, destructive scam that has burned many people. If you ever have any question about a check or money order received from someone you don't know, do not deposit it. Ask your state attorney general's office to investigate.

Answer 2

I posted looking for a roommate on roommates.com, and got lots of scam offers as well. Roommates would always delete the accounts when they were reported, and it happens on all other sites as well.

The scam works like this: They send you a cashier's check for more money than you are requesting. They then ask you to deposit the check and send them a wire or check for the difference back.

Problem is, their cashier's check is bogus. Meanwhile, you sent them your real money for the overage. By the time the cashier's check is found to be fake by your bank, you are out your money. And have no way to trace them back.

I'd still use roommates.com, i'd recommend craigslist.org, any local free newspaper you have in your area, and also suggest looking at any colleges or large companies in your area where you could post a sheet somewhere with those little tear-offs with your phone number at the bottom. Talk to everyone you know, sometimes they'll bump into someone who knows someone who is looking.

ANYONE OFFERING TO SEND YOU A CASHIER'S CHECK UPFRONT, AND ASKING FOR CASH BACK, IS A SCAM. NEVER REPLY TO THEM.

Answer 3

Be wary of anyone wanting to rent from a foreign country when they haven't seen the place. I know you are probably getting desperate but you don't want the headache of dealing with these foreign scam artists. They have a bunch of different cashier's check scams and they all end up with you losing money.

Trust your instinct and only talk to people you can meet face to face.

Answer 4

Only take possible roommates that a responsible person suggests. One that pays their own bills. Do not rent to family. You won't get your money most of the time.

Answer 5

Never rent to someone without meeting them first. I would advise a background check if you can afford it, if not maybe make that something they pay for to weed out the "bad seeds".

Have you tried asking people you know if they know of anyone who needs a place to live? Have you tried an ad in the local paper, the ad board at the grocery store, your local college, or church?

Answer 6

Doesn't sound like it is on the up and up to me. The PO Box is a good idea. Get a separate bank account so it is never your own personal accounts. You can just keep the minimum in the separate account and if you get money in it then transfer it to your personal account. I wouldn't give to much personal information either, you don't know who you are dealing with. I would also get their name, address, phone number, business name and address. You then make contact with them and also check their business out on the Better Business Bureau website. If you find nothing is good or to your satisfaction then don't contact them. If they don't want to give you info then you know then something isn't right.

Answer 7

Get a roommate you know or is known by your family or friends.

Have a detailed agreement as to rights, responsibilities and behavior.

Answer 8

You should be cautious about looking for a roommate on PERIOD......There are all type of people who are just applying to your ad just to be doing so then again there are legit people as well....just be careful in your consideration