How to Spot a Rental Scam

𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗠 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧: 𝗙𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡

We are seeing a noticeable increase in rental scams across Cold Lake and the Edmonton area, and we want our community to know what to watch for.

Here is how it works. Bad actors copy a real listing, photos and all, repost it at a price that looks too good to pass up, then pressure you to e-transfer an "application fee," "holding deposit" or "key deposit" before you have seen the unit or signed anything. Once that money is sent, it is gone.

𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗚𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗙𝗢𝗥

You are asked to e-transfer a fee before viewing the property

The "landlord" cannot meet you in person, is "out of province" or "working overseas"

Rent is well below market for the area

Heavy pressure and urgency, "three other people want it today"

All contact is by text or Messenger, never a company email or a secure portal

No brokerage name given, or a name you cannot verify anywhere

𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗜𝗡𝗖.

1. Our available units are posted on

   www.thepropertyconsultinggroup.com

   and on our verified pages

2. You view the unit in person with a member of our team
3. Applications are submitted through our secure Resident Portal, never by e-transfer and never through a DM
4. 𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲
5. Once approved, you receive a written lease agreement
6. Deposits and rent are paid only through the Resident Portal into the brokerage trust account, never to a personal account
7. Keys are provided after the lease is signed and the move-in inspection is complete

𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗔 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘

The Property Consulting Group Inc. is fully licensed through the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA).

You never have to take our word for it. RECA operates a free public search tool where anyone can verify a brokerage or an individual real estate professional in Alberta, including us:

If the person you are dealing with is not licensed there, stop and walk away.

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗗𝗢𝗨𝗕𝗧, 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗨𝗦

If you see a listing that claims to be one of our properties and something feels off, call or text us before you send a single dollar. We will confirm in under a minute whether it is ours.

If you believe you have been targeted or have lost money, report it to your local RCMP detachment and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Please share this post. One share could save a family in our community their damage deposit and their move.

𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀.

Call/Text: (780) 545-0938

AI Assistant: (782) 812-7433

Facebook: The Property Consulting Group Inc.

Instagram: @propertyconsultinggroupYEG

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