I bet you've heard a horror story or two..... Someone you know is desperately looking for a place to rent. They finally believe they've found a great place and the price is really good. There is a conversation with the owner over text or email, maybe even the phone. All good consumers would like to go see the place before investing any money. But unfortunately the owner can't meet for a few days because he is out of town for business or in the hospital sick, or whatever good-sounding excuse they use. However, it's made known that the price really is a good deal because there are several other people interested in the home as well, and in order to hold it, a deposit is required ASAP, even before getting a look at the place. Arrangements are made, money is sent, a move in date is scheduled, boxes are packed, everything is ready to go. And then.... all of a sudden, things aren't ready to go at all!! It was all a scam and your friend has lost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. The "owner" was not the real owner. The home isn't even for rent. Some evil person has stolen the images from the internet and posted them on social media or Craigslist in order to scam unsuspecting, desperate people out of a good chunk of change. And they are doing it to several people all at the same time, raking in everyone's hard earned money and leaving them high and dry!

I know the housing market in Tennessee is fierce! That just makes the soil fertile for this type of scam. It's typically a scam for rental properties, but not uncommon to see it used on houses for sale also. If you or someone you know is looking for housing and thinks they've found a great deal on the perfect place, here are some questions to ask.

Where did you find this listing?

If the listing was found on any social media or Craigslist....... RUN!!! I don't care how tempting it is "to just see". It's a scam! Don't forget what your grandmother taught you..... If it's to good to be true, it is! Even be cautious with legitimate sites like Realtor.com or Zillow. Anyone can post a listing on these sites for sale or rent by owner. So it's not to far fetched to expect that scammers could be hanging out there as well. Also, scammers are now creating sophisticated websites around fake listings. So be cautious and verify!!

Are you being pressured to send money now?

Be leery of anyone pressuring you to send money immediately before you've had a chance to verify the legitimacy of a property. If you are told there is a lot of interest in the home, that's a red flag that it could be a scam. And if you are told that the only way you can be assured to get first dibs is by sending a deposit in order to "hold" the property, definitely assume this is a scam! 

Are you able to meet with the owner to see the property?

Before any money changes hand, you should have the opportunity to go see the property in person and see if it even looks like the photos. If the owner has all kinds of excuses why they can't meet with you, warning bells should be going off in your head. Common excuses are: They are out of town on business, or, they are currently in the hospital sick. Do NOT send any money if you have not been able to walk into the home and look around first. If they tell you the property is currently being rented and you can't get in to see it, make a point to go by the property yourself and knock on the door. This is typically when it's discovered the home isn't even for sell or rent. Do this before you send any money.

Why is this home such a good deal?

Ask yourself, "Why IS this property such a good deal?" Again, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. If the price is not comparable to other homes of similar size in the area, you should question it. Don't be surprised to hear altruistic answers, such as, "I'm a missionary in another state or country, and I just want to help good people find a home." Or, "My parent has just passed away and they'd love knowing that good people where able to live in their home." These scammers are good, and they are well versed in making you think they are "just good people looking to help." There are still good people in the world, and YOU are one of them. Don't let a scammer take advantage of YOUR goodness to separate you from your money.

You just can't let it go?

Are you seeing red flags, but you really don't want to miss out on a good deal? Hang on.... take a breath. Here are a few things to do BEFORE you send any money and schedule the movers.

• Talk to a trusted friend or family member. Let them know about this good deal and all the particulars. Get their opinion.
• Before you send any money, do a drive-by of the home and knock on the door to see if anyone is living there. If someone answers the door, tell them you are looking at renting or buying the place. Ask who they are and if the home is available. If they are renting, ask who the owner is they are paying rent to. This is usually when the truth comes out. However, if no one answers the door, do NOT assume you are in the clear just yet. You still need to find out if the property is legit. Scammers will often choose vacant homes to perform their ruse because it's safer and less likely the plan is discovered.
• If no one answers the door during your drive-by, call a realtor. Or call a realtor BEFORE you do the drive-by. If you know a realtor personally, ask them to look the property up for you on the local MLS to see if it is a legit listing. If you don't know a realtor, call a local real estate office and explain the situation. They will be happy to look into it and help you out.

It is a shame that their are people in this world who would do this to hard-working people. But you don't have to be a victim. You just have to be cautious and use some discernment.