contact who will “confirm” their employment. It’s important for the property owner to verify that the company and the reference listed do, in fact, exist. Again, asking for pay stubs, a W2 tax return and bank statements will expose this ruse. When verifying employment by phone, ask to speak to the tenant’s immediate supervisor in order to get a more personal character reference.
#3 Falsifying Pay Stubs and Listing Bogus Jobs You naturally want to see proof of income for your prospective tenant and pay stubs are obviously the best indication of who they work for and how much they are being paid. But do you know that there are websites that enable people to falsify pay stubs? It is imperative that you check all the basic information closely on the pay stub. Look for any discrepancies in the numbers, formatting and overall quality. Always make sure to ask for employment references. An applicant’s employer often cannot give you someone’s salary without written permission, so be sure that your rental application includes a release form or clause. Another employment scam is to list a nonexistent employer with a fake job description, job length and salary that will satisfy your rent requirements. Often the dishonest applicant will ask a friend to pose as a Human Resource
#4 Phony Prior Landlord Ploy Providing false contact information for previous landlords is similar to the imaginary employer trick. When you call to verify the applicant’s tenancy, you may be speaking with a friend or relative who will lie about their history of paying rent on time, length of time as a resident of the property, etc. If possible, verify that the address given is a rental property and try to identify a property management company or onsite manager who can furnish you with the correct information about your applicant.
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