Online scams: appartment scams

Hallo everyone! So my family and i are lucky enough that we don't have to pay rent because we own a home, however, over the weekend a close friend of my husband (he has no hearing problems) was unfortunately a victim of an appartment scam! He had just moved back from abroad and was in desperate need to find a place to stay. They had asked for a deposit and sent him a fake "contract" to sign. I am sad and i guess people need to be really careful with the internet nowdays. It would be interesting to know your opinions on Internet-scamming in general. Has anyone of you ever experienced any online scamming?

Oh yeah..it's very common. Back in around 2003, one deaf woman in GA was looking for a roommate and the "Company" in England want to rent a room for 2 people for business training and stated that there's a chemical company live near her which is perfect for transportation. They only need it for like 4 months and will pay in full. So deaf woman believe everything what they said because there's a company live right next to her. Next day she got fed ex mail and she opened it and the check look very real. So she took it to the bank and got it deposited. $3000 something (Security plus monthly rent). So she told the company that she deposited and all set. Then next day the company told her they change their mind, none of the two guys want to go to USA and want the money back immediately. She complied and did right away with money order check and fed ex it. I think, not sure if she fed ex or she use wired. Either way.... then few days later the bank found out that the check is fake and had to withdraw all of her saving to zero plus some from checking. She lost everything. It's really bad...felt sorry for her.

I don't understand how on earth people fall for this. Any smart person would never send money online or overseas to somebody they've never heard of. Common sense, people?

They usually not learn a lesson until they are victim of scam.

I was victim of scam and already learned my lesson about long time ago - back in 2009.

I have heard stories of this online scam/frauds involving house and apartment rentals. It's easy for scammers to look up online ads for homes putting up for rent and make fake ad trying to lure people to send deposit without meeting landlord in person.

When you look for a place to rent, always meet the landlord and have him/her show you the place and then take care of all the documents before making deposit to secure the place you're renting.

Calvin said:

I have heard stories of this online scam/frauds involving house and apartment rentals. It's easy for scammers to look up online ads for homes putting up for rent and make fake ad trying to lure people to send deposit without meeting landlord in person.

When you look for a place to rent, always meet the landlord and have him/her show you the place and then take care of all the documents before making deposit to secure the place you're renting.

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Makes sense most, in person everything or nothing

Foxrac said:

They usually not learn a lesson until they are victim of scam.

I was victim of scam and already learned my lesson about long time ago - back in 2009.

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I am truly very sorry that you had to undergo this experience. Online scams do happen, especially when one is desperate.

A tip from my husband is that the simplest and most fool-proof way to protect yourself from internet-fraud is to protect your personal data. Your sensitive data needs to be secure at all points! Most thieves, intent on stealing information, use tried and true techniques. Therefore, common sense against well-known threats is your first line of defense. I found some great tips in this article https://www.1and1.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/online-identity-theft-protection/ that i was reading yesterday. The more one is informed the better.

Dai Johnson said:

Hallo everyone! So my family and i are lucky enough that we don't have to pay rent because we own a home, however, over the weekend a close friend of my husband (he has no hearing problems) was unfortunately a victim of an appartment scam! He had just moved back from abroad and was in desperate need to find a place to stay. They had asked for a deposit and sent him a fake "contract" to sign. I am sad and i guess people need to be really careful with the internet nowdays. It would be interesting to know your opinions on Internet-scamming in general. Has anyone of you ever experienced any online scamming?

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The rule to follow here is: if it's over the internet don't send anyone money to anyone unless it's with someone you know or have dealt with before or it's done with something like PayPal. Also don't send any money to anyone who calls on the phone demanding it(such as the IRS saying you owe them money, THEY NEVER WILL CALL YOU, THEY WILL ALWAYS SEND A LETTER) or anyone(including charities)calling with any type of offer, tell them to send you a letter and you will look at it and if they ask for your address you will know it's a scam. If someone says they will only accept cash or gift cards as payment for a bill owed, RUN THE OTHER WAY! Finally, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

if done over the internet or phone it is wire fraud, a FEDERAL offense , report it to proper authorities ( FBI ) and they will track it down and prosecute.

sonocativo said:

if done over the internet or phone it is wire fraud, a FEDERAL offense , report it to proper authorities ( FBI ) and they will track it down and prosecute.

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I didn't know that. Hmmmm. A couple years ago I stopped by this shelter and met a deaf man. He was an Iraq war vet who lost his hearing through a bomb blast. It turned out he was from Michigan and was a master mechanic looking for work, and his sister was deaf, both parents dead. Well, if you know me, you know I had to know more, because I could have sworn he was always deaf, the way he was signing, you know? It turned out he "got burned" in an apartment deal. Before arriving in this town, he paid someone I think $3000 for an apartment, but when he went there, it was like The Twilight Zone--the tenant was there and knew nothing. (yeah, at this point I was thinking WTH???) He said he called the police and they were investigating. (at this point I was pissed at HIM)
To make a long story short, it worked out. The con-men were arrested, he got his money back and now is gainfully employed at a car dealership, but I haven't seen him since. I hope his sister is living with him. I have a feeling if not that, then something better. I know this guy learned his lesson.

Never been scammed...very wary of something that's too good to be true. I've read about those apt/home scams a few years ago...Squatters also...The greediness of some people never ceases to amaze me.

yeah I never been scammed but I got few vp calls about bank but I knew bank will never call and the toll phone number was wrong so I just deleted and never called back again. and one time one thought I was some1 she knew but after a while she must had realized she had wrong phone number lol