BOSTON — The Boston Police Department is warning residents about a rise in apartment rental scams targeting individuals searching for housing throughout the city.
These scams typically involve individuals fraudulently posing as landlords or rental agents.
Scammers often post fake listings for properties that either do not exist, have already been rented, or have been copied from legitimate advertisements.
Victims are then pressured to send money up front, frequently via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, for application fees, deposits, or first month’s rent without ever seeing the property.
In many cases, scammers also request sensitive personal information, increasing the risk of identity theft.
These fraudulent listings have appeared on various platforms, including Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and other legitimate rental websites.
To avoid falling victim to rental scams, the Boston Police Department and the Federal Trade Commission recommend researching the rental company or landlord by searching their name along with words like “complaint,” “review,” or “scam.”
Police advise being wary of prices that are significantly lower than comparable listings in the area.
Residents should never let anyone rush them into making a quick decision or payment.
Police recommend visiting the property in person and verifying ownership through the City of Boston’s online tax assessment records.
Residents should never provide personal or financial information to unverified sources.
Police advise avoiding making payments with cash, prepaid cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
If scammed, residents should file a police report at their local district station and report the fraudulent listing to the website where it was posted.
Victims should also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
