Joint Base Charleston Real Estate

Joint Base Charleston – Avoiding Rental Scams

As we all know, internet fraud is everywhere now and the rental industry is no exception. So before you begin your search for your next Joint Base Charleston rental home, please be aware that there are dishonest people out there, posing as property managers and/or owners, just to make a quick buck. Such scams are common on sites like Craigslist, Zillow, and Hotpads – but basically any popular rental site is a potential target. Military Homes Charleston wants to help you identify these scams so you can avoid becoming a victim.

For Joint Base Charleston Renters:

The SCAM
How it works…..the person will pose as the owner of a Charleston property and will try to get your personal information and/or money. They will take your money and/or use your personal information to commit identity theft. This scam is almost always via email, but sometimes happens in person. They sometimes will place false ads for Charleston homes at extremely low rent prices. Sometimes the home is for Rent with an actual Real Estate agent, who is unaware their listing has been ‘cloned’, and other times the home is not even available at all and the home owner is not aware until ‘renters’ begin showing up at their door expecting to move in.

Red Flags:

• Very cheap rent for the type of property and size of the house
• The “landlord” refuses to talk to you on the phone
• You are unable to see the inside of the home
• They ask for an application or deposit before showing you the property
• The property appears on a different site for more money with different contact information
• Emails that are filled with spelling and grammatical errors are usually a sign of fraud
• The “name” they give you does not match the “name” in the email address

Here is an actual email received from someone posing as the home owner of a property – this person is NOT the owner…but simply someone attempting to scam unsuspecting people. This was sent as a reply based on a simple “May we find out more on this home” inquiry:

Thanks for your contacting me in regarding of my home for rent, My name is Sarah E Parker , I own the home you are interested in. The home is still available for rent, but I will only be interested in renting it out to a very caring and God fearing person that will take very good care of the house, Am now in Harrison Arkansas on a private assignment, You can go ahead and view the surrounding of the house and neighborhood area, so i hope you will promise me to take very good care of my home, also i will be coming once in 3 months for visiting to see how you are taking care of the home, and if any thing need to be repair in the home, and fix it back! You can rent the home for 3 years or more, Also let me know your experience, see below for more details about the home.

Interested leaser/renter should kindly write me back with these requested information for proper record and documentation such as :

First Name, Last Name, Spouse Full Names, Kids Full Names, Relatives or Friends Full Name, Mobile/Cell Number, Telephone Number, Present House Address Present Work place name and Address, Present work Tel. Number, Numbers of Cars, Pet type, proposed date of Move in, months budget to deposit before move in:

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt in your name and contacting you. Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys to you, please we are giving you all this based on trust and again i want you to stick to your words, am putting everything into Gods hand. God bless

Tips to Avoid the SCAM:

• Remember what your mama told you?? “If it sounds too good to be true…..” Well – KEEP THIS IN MIND! Odds are that you are not going to find a fabulous 5 Bedroom/3 Bath, close to Joint Base Charleston, for $900/Month… If you have done your research, you will immediately suspect deals that are too good to be true.
• Know who you are dealing with and ask for ID
• Check the internet for the name of the property manager, or check public records to find out who owns the property
• Don’t send any money to someone you have not verified. Do not send any money via Western Union or any other similar service.
• Always deal locally and in person
• Research online for that property’s address and see if you find multiple listings with different information.
• Do not rent a property until you have seen it! Remember - under no circumstances should you be required to pay before you have seen the property.

Remember – the majority of listings on the internet are legitimate, but you need to keep your eyes open. Trust your instincts and don’t ignore the Red Flags! If the situation feels wrong to you, then walk away – or at the very least – KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS until you feel comfortable. A legitimate Joint Base Charleston Property Management team should have no trouble in addressing any questions or concerns you may have.

Military Homes Charleston
We specialize in helping military families enjoy a smooth PCS in and out of Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Buying and selling your home is one of the biggest events of your life. As your trusted Charleston Real Estate Professional, we are 100% committed to helping you the best way we can when you buy or sell your home. We have a passion for helping people, and we love what we do – call 843-410-8014 or email today!