3. Payment problems that don’t show up right away
In these scenarios, a scammer sends a payment that later fails, then asks for a refund, sometimes claiming it was an overpayment or mistake. Per CBS News in Los Angeles, police are investigating suspects who used counterfeit checks and fake IDs to rent properties, tricking landlords into handing over keys after depositing bad checks. By the time the checks were exposed as fake, the scammers had taken possession of the property and sublet the units to others, leaving the owners responsible for both lost funds and eviction proceedings.
What to watch for:
How to help protect yourself:
• Rent or deposits offered before the property is viewed • Requests to refund part of an “accidental” overpayment • Payment confirmations that don’t match your bank records
• Wait until payments clear before issuing any refunds • Use secure, trackable online rent payment systems • Avoid third-party payment apps that offer little fraud protection
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