With rents and moving expenses already squeezing budgets, one woman in northwest Houston says she's $750 in the hole after falling victim to a rental scam.
Here's what to know
As reported by FOX 26, Houston police are investigating after the woman responded to a Redfin listing for a home on Needles Throw Lane. She said a man contacted her with lease documents and entry information, and even collected $750 before she discovered he did not own the property.
"It's very disappointing. It hurts so bad. It hurts knowing somebody did this to me," the woman said, per FOX 26. "It's not right. It's not fair. Just beware."
According to Redfin, the listing was supplied by a third-party multiple listing service and then circulated to Redfin and other rental websites. The company told FOX 26 it has since removed the listing from Redfin and affiliated sites and notified the outside MLS.
Invitation Homes, which owns the property, said it relies on a separate service to identify and remove fraudulent listings involving its homes.
More background
Deposits, application fees, and moving costs already stretch many renters thin, so losing hundreds of dollars in a fraudulent deal can delay a move or leave someone scrambling for emergency cash.
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Leah Napoliello of the Better Business Bureau warned that renters should be skeptical when a property is listed at a lower-than-expected price, per FOX 26. "If the price is extremely low for the rental compared to other prices in the area, that's always a red flag," Napoliello said.
She also said to be skeptical of requests for payment through methods such as gift cards, crypto, Cash App, or prepaid debit cards. "Those are all untraceable payment methods, so someone could just take the money and run," Napoliello said.
What can be done?
Before sending money, renters should make sure they can tour the property and confirm that the person offering it is actually authorized to rent it.
Napoliello said, "You should always get that opportunity to tour the property."
As noted by FOX 26, the Houston Association of Realtors said renters can use the Texas Real Estate Commission to verify a listing agent's credentials. Anyone who believes they may have encountered a scam should also report it to local police and the Federal Trade Commission.
Redfin maintains that payment should never be made until after an in-person visit and lease signing. Invitation Homes also warned people to be cautious about demands for cash or wire payments, unusually large deposits, and listings that do not require a background check.
For renters dealing with restrictive housing rules and troublesome living situations more broadly, it may also help to work with landlords or community associations to update policies that block practical cost-saving habits. Residents can check out this resource on changing HOA bylaws for more information and step-by-step instructions on how to start.
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