Consumer protection warns against those impersonating own agency through rental scams
Western Australians looking for rent are warned that they are more careful because of the increasing number of scammers imitating state institutions requesting payment for false bonds.
According to consumer protection, the WA Scamnet team has received 35 rent fraudsters this year and 12 victims lost a total of 27,875 dollars.
The figures are not far from the entire 2024, where 45 reports were made and 16 victims lost $ 39,935.
Fraud works by someone who claims to be a host or a real estate agent and offers a non -existent rental property.
A E -Posta, which claims to come from the consumer protection, is sent to demand for a request to guarantee the lease agreement.
A man who was sacrificed to the scammer was 45, Samier.
Mr. Nouze lost $ 2400 for a fraudulent bond for a rental property of Northern suburbs.
The oral meeting with the host face -to -face and he was friends with them on social media, the scammer did not allow him to enter his house, saying he could not enter, so he could not go in.
Mr. Rouze said he was disappointed with the events.
“Actually, I was angry, I don’t know why some people do this by taking advantage of rent prices,” he said.
“I think he won our trust because he was very interested in what we asked.
“Our only mistake was not to knock on the door.”
Mr. Rouze warned others to be careful and always see the property from the first hand.
“Please check the place, if you can do it twice, go to a real estate agent three times or just,” he said.
“I know it is a bit difficult at this stage because of housing problems, but I think we should not disappoint our guards by checking the property itself, so it will never happen to anyone again.”
Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake, perspective tenants should be very careful to avoid being defrauded, he said.
“Online markets and social media platforms are primary hunting areas for rental fraudsters who use fake property lists and respond to ‘sought -after -rent’ ads to find sacrifices,” he said.
“To leave the rental scammers behind, always insist on internal examination before leaving with any money, and be careful against the rental prices for ‘too good to be real’ because there is a common tactic to attract more victims.”
In order to avoid being a rental victim of a rental victim, make a call of the address online to check that it is not listed with another company, and never pay the ownership from physically examining the ownership.
Ms. Blake, E -Posta by checking the address of the bond payment request is legitimate, you can see if you can see.
“While scammers can multiply many things, they cannot ensure that E -Posta addresses are caused by the state government,” he said.
“If it does not end with Wa.gov.au, this is a very clear sign, any correspondence that claims that consumer protection comes from the bond management team.”
Consumers who are concerned about whether their bonds have been placed can call the Bonds management team directly from a phone number 1300 853 829 or send E -POSTA to bondsadmin@demirs.wa.gov.au.
