Are you planning to rent accommodation online over the Christmas and summer holiday season? Make sure the business you are dealing with is legitimate.
Consumer Affairs Victoria has received 26 reports of rental scams in the past year.
Rental listings are a popular target for scammers, who post bogus listings which often look like genuine offers, including photos and real addresses of properties.
When you express interest, the scammer requests money – often via money transfer – or personal details up-front, to ensure you ‘secure’ the rental property.
Rather than securing your dream home or holiday rental, you’ll either lose your money or open yourself up to identity theft.
To avoid such scams, never send money or supply personal details to people you don’t know and trust.
Warning signs to look out for:
- Offers which sound too good to be true probably are. Look out for excessively cheap prices and promises of water views at seemingly bargain rates.
- The prospective landlord lives overseas.
- A request for a money transfer for an up-front viewing or a `holding fee’.
- Ongoing excuses from the landlord as to why you can’t view the property or meet them.
- Dramatic stories intended to appeal to your charity or compassion, such as the owner being desperate to rent the property due to a recent death in the family.
- Listings which use low-quality, blurry or distant photographs. They may be stock images or stolen from other websites.
- A poorly-worded advertisement. Look for US spelling in an Australian advertisement, poor English, grammar and spacing, or generic-sounding company names.
Protect yourself
To avoid being scammed, you should:
- insist on an inspection. Don’t just drive by the property – it may exist but be owned by someone else
- research the company, landlord’s name and the property online
- never provide personal details or pay money to a company or person you do not know or trust
- be wary of websites which use overseas payment facilities and contact numbers
- keep copies of emails, letters or other correspondence with the landlord or representative you are dealing with
- check any references or recommendations independently. Do not rely on contacts provided by the landlord or company.
If you think you have been scammed, report it immediately on our Dob in a scam page.
We have sourced information from the relevant statutory instruments, from much legal literature for this article including from
http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au
These matters may require tailored legal advice. Contact us for a consultation.
For legal advice please contact
Dinesh Weerakkody LLB; PDLP
Barrister & Solicitor (An Australian Legal Practitioner)
An Australian Migration Agent (0742843)
President – LawHelp Australia
Treasurer – Eastern Suburbs Law Association (ESLA) of LIV
Law Institute Migration Law Committee- Member
Unit 4, 31 Princes Highway, DANDENONG, VIC 3175, Australia
MOB +61 425725570
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