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There’s a huge shift of people moving from coast to coast, and you can blame a lot of it on COVID-19. Highly-populated cities like New York are seeing an exodus of residents seeking more affordable rent, lower taxes, and fewer shutdown restrictions. And since the coronavirus pandemic showed the need to not live on top of one another, some of these same people are moving for safety reasons.

With so many people on the move, scammers have the perfect opportunity to snag new victims. And if you’re moving to save money or to relocate so you can finally begin working again, you don’t want to become one of them, as you could make a dire situation even worse.

How can you steer free of rental scams that are popping up daily? Look for these red flags. And if you see them, look elsewhere.

Rental Red Flags

Before we jump into the list of red flags for rentals, know that seeing one of these signs doesn’t guarantee the person you’re dealing with is a scammer. However, it should push you to research further into the situation before signing anything or giving them money.

Ridiculously Low Rent

If you know where you want to move to, you should have a general idea of what the going rate for rent is in the area. If the advertised price for a property is much lower than the competition, something could be wrong. Either the property has severe issues that make it almost unlivable, or it could be listed low to attract attention, so a scammer can con you into thinking you’re getting a great deal.

A Fee To See

A legitimate real estate agent or property owner won’t charge a fee to see a rental. If you’re asked to pay one, don’t bother, as it’s probably a scam.

Not Being Able To See the Property Beforehand

Don’t be conned by an ad with wonderful pictures and a low price that doesn’t allow you to see the property in person. No matter how tempting it may be, don’t sign a lease until you set foot in the rental, or you could become a scammer’s next victim.

A Bad Ad

A real estate agent or property owner doesn’t have to be a professional writer, but if the ad is loaded with spelling and grammatical errors, you might be better off moving on.

Pay close attention to the words in the ad. You may see some words spelled with an international version, such as favour instead of favor. If so, this could mean that the person behind the ad is a scammer overseas.

Lastly, look for ads with all CAPS or tons of exclamation marks. If it seems like they’re yelling to get your attention, it’s probably because they’re seeking new victims.

Too Much Pressure

Is the agent pushing you to sign right away? Do they keep telling you that others are interested, and the rental will be gone if you don’t act now? If so, use your instincts. If these high-pressure tactics seem to be too over the top, it’s probably because the agent (aka scammer) wants a quick con.

The Owner Doesn’t Seem to Exist

Some owners may use real estate agents to represent them if they’re busy or out of town. Don’t let this keep you from ever talking to the owner, though.

If it seems like the agent is hiding the owner from you, they may not even exist, and the property could be a fake rental that’s aiming to get a quick deposit or your info.