Rental scammers are more likely to strike now, according to the Montana Better Business Bureau.
COVID-19 has forced most home sales and rental interactions and transactions online.
Social distancing is being used as an excuse to not meet and show a property before requesting a deposit or personal information, Hannah Stiff, director of the Montana BBB, told Montana Public Radio.
Most people who come across rental scams don’t fall for them, Stiff said, but of those who do 1 in 3 will lose more than $1,000.
There are key things to keep in mind to avoid being scammed, according to Stiff's advice in MTPR.
Be on the lookout for deals that sound too good to be true; if a price in a particular area seems unbelievable, it probably is.
Check another city to see if the same listing - same address, contact number, same email - is posted elsewhere.
Make an effort to see the place in person, if at all possible. Ask if the landlords can use Skype or Facetime to converse.
Finally, odd requests for personal information before you have seen a property is a red flag.
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