PHOENIX — With the current housing market causing many Arizonans to rent instead of buy, Attorney General Kris Mayes is warning prospective tenants to beware of potential scams.
“Housing is a basic human need and, unfortunately, some fraudsters prey upon that need to take advantage of hardworking Arizonans simply trying to find a place to live,” Mayes said in a press release Thursday. “I urge you to be cautious about who you provide your financial and other personally identifying information to when looking for a home.”
The median sale price for a house in the Grand Canyon State has increased by 3.5% since last year and by around 50% in the last five years, according to Redfin.
However, it does depend on where in Arizona you live whether costs are cheaper for renters or homeowners.
Scam artists deceive prospective renters with fake listings or even copy real listings and then convince victims to pay before actually setting eyes on the residence.
The scammer might also try to steal the unsuspecting inquirer’s identity by obtaining their personal and banking information.
What does the attorney general say to look out for?
Mayes provided tips for consumers to keep in mind when looking at possible homes and apartments to rent, including:
- Be careful of prices that are listed a good amount under the market price.
- Search the home’s address to see if it is listed elsewhere.
- Visit the property to verify it actually exists.
- Steer clear of companies and individuals who are unreachable by phone, that are located out of the state or country or who insist on communicating solely through text.
- Avoid those who ask for payments to be wired, sent overseas, in the form of gift cards or through apps like Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, etc.
- Be cautious of companies and individuals who ask for up front fees in addition to the usual application and credit check fees or that ask for your social security number or bank information right away.
The attorney general also had recommendations for what to do after viewing a prospective rental such as ensuring it matches what is described in the listing, double-checking that all the fees and costs are listed in the agreement and making certain you understand the terms of the lease.
Mayes also warned against signing leases that have blank spaces and suggested not paying the security deposit until the lease is signed as well as getting a copy of the agreement.
Arizonans who believe they may be a victim of consumer fraud can file a complaint on the attorney general’s website.
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