BBB: Be careful when looking for a new home or apartment

Posted on March 12, 2024
For those looking for a new home or apartment, you might want to think twice before submitting a down payment. (Photo courtesy: Flickr/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Those looking for housing in McLean County should think twice about putting down a deposit on an apartment.

The reasoning is that scammers want to take advantage of the housing crunch by creating a false sense of urgency.

Don O’Brien with the Better Business Bureau sees this scam far too often.

“What happens is you deal with someone, and the scammers, most likely, take a property that was once for sale, and they will make it act as if that place is for rent. They will take the photos off the actual listing, make up their own listening, and put up that property at a very attractive rent price.”

From there, scammers ask for a down payment on the home.

Once they receive the money through an app like CashApp or Venmo, they stop responding to messages and disappear.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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