Rental scam?

[flying_babyb]

BEAUTIFUL TOWNHOME WITH A GARAGE! COMPLETELY REMODELED KITCHEN w/custom cabinets, granite counters and top-of-the-line appliances. All brand new carpeting. This roomy home consists of a dining room, a living areas, 2 beds and 2 baths. Master bedroom has a huge walk-in closet. You get 1 car garage and a assigned parking. Pets welcome. Trash, water, gas included. Tenant pays electric. Deposit $200 + first month's rent. Hurry!

So this is what I get when I emailed them: (edited for space)
We only deal with possible tenants who can provide us with their own credit report. We have learned over the years that by doing some pre-screening up front we save great deal of time. This is how we can offer you lower than market rent and still be able to profit. We think this is a win-win for all parties involved. You will not be disqualified as long as you don't have any major real estate related problem on your credit report.

If you already have a recent report we maybe able accept that, as long as it contains the information that we are looking for. It has to be taken within the last 30 days (no exception there) from a reputable company. Otherwise please go to our investor tools page at http://www.dsproperties.info/4694.html and follow the credit report link there. We prefer their report and it will process fastest with us. They have free trial.


I dont know but this just bothers me. Something seems odd about this thing. What do you think?

 

[Stacerita]

If its to good to be true, it probably is.

 

[flying_babyb]

it seems too good to be true. I dont know

 

[Linzybrooke]

Contact a realtor, they can probably help you out.

 

[MosMom]

Make sure there is no clause in the contract regarding people with disfigured toes.


It sounds to me like they don't want to pay for credit reports and they save money if you do it yourself.

 

[phorsenuf]

I'm not quite understanding why it might be a scam.

 

[Loverly]

It sounds to me like they don't want to pay for credit reports and they save money if you do it yourself.

Yep! All landlords worth their salt get a credit report on prospective renters.

 

[Youarehere]

I vote SCAM based on the poor english.

"a living areas" and "You get 1 car garage and a assigned parking"

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I'm not quite understanding why it might be a scam.

Yep! All landlords worth their salt get a credit report on prospective renters.

Yeah..I don't see how that could be a scam in itself... its a credit report they can pull on their own... but if you have it...they dont have to pay for it.

 

[Youarehere]

Yep! All landlords worth their salt get a credit report on prospective renters.

Not sure of your tone here, but yes, they do run credit reports.

 

[RitaE]

well personally I wouldn't submit my credit report information to anybody without actually seeing the property first. They don't need to know your financial information until you are ready to actually lease. I'm not sure why they want you to go through credit report for America. I don't like those places where you sign up for a free trial and then have to cancel. Lots of people have problems getting those things canceled.

I would ask if you can just run a report through Equifax or something yourself, print it out, and give it to them.

 

[Cousin Ron]

I would be very leery.

Something to think about:

If you give them your credit report, they have all your information and that may potentially be used for fraudulent purposes. Plus, they have your security deposit money. Does the rental space actually exist? Have you seen it?

Renting apartments sight unseen for under market rates was a recent scam here - the owner or renter if a sublet was transferred to another state because of their job, family emergency, etc. I don't recall reading anything about credit reports, though.

Have you checked out the link they provided (I didn't)? Is it valid or just a scam or shell site?

Be cautious. Check the company out with the BBB or your local town government renter rights org.

Good luck.

 

[JimmyPicker]

What concerns me the most is the website itself.

They give absolutely no contact information other than an email address. No phone number. No office location.

And without speaking to a real live person, without making an appointment to see the town home in person, without even knowing who these people are or where they're located, they want you to plug in all your personal information on an application and a credit report.

Now they have all your information and they've not even suggested showing the townhome or anything.

I don't know...I'd feel much more secure if I could see the place first, and then head to their office to do the paperwork. At least then, if there were problems, I'd have a decent shot of hunting them down instead of them being lost in cyber space somewhere.

 

[flying_babyb]

First off its the credit report thing. Every landlord I know does it themself. The site they tell you to get it from (the one they want you to use) just seems off. They want all this and there application filled out befor they will let you see the place. the grammer isnt great. The price is WAY Too low for the area. Townhouses go for 600 or more here. I emailed them back with a few more questions and havnet gotten a response.

 

[Cousin Ron]

They could have also suggested you get your credit report for free under the annual credit report laws.

Fishy they wont let you see it. Do you know the address? Can you speak with the neighbors or anyone else that rents in the building?

All in all, with the info you've provided, I call scam.

 

[RitaE]

A very good rule in life

Whenever anybody you are considering paying money to tells you to "hurry," then "hurry" in the other direction.

And I've never heard of anybody offering below market rental rates based off the cost of a credit report. Credit Reports aren't that expensive to run and many landlords just charge an application fee to cover the cost once it gets to that point.

I googled DS Properties. I see a website for a Rental Mgt place, but no actual properties listed as available. They don't even have a Residential section.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Make sure there is no clause in the contract regarding people with disfigured toes.

It sounds to me like they don't want to pay for credit reports and they save money if you do it yourself.

 

[flying_babyb]

You leave my disfigured feet out of this! lol. Im waiting to see if they email back.