theconnectionsnj.com HOME & DESIGN PAGE 20 HOCKENBURY ELECTRICAL CO., INC 908-725-0313 Fully Insured • License #10011 www.hockenburyelectric.com Commercial • Industrial • Residential 1922 – 2025 Over 100 YEARS of SERVICE JOHN P. LAWSON CONSTRUCTION, LLC Building & Framing Specialists Residential & Commercial Complete Home Improvement Fully Insured Phone: 908.526.2846 Cell: 908.625.8650 Custom Homes • Framing • Windows Additions • Doors • Add-A-Levels Basements • Decks • Roofing • Siding Raritan, New Jersey HIC #13VH02613900 ecently, I received a call from a concerned local who was looking for an apartment. She was browsing a community page on Facebook when she saw a cute place for rent. She responded to the post, received a link to apply, and a request for a deposit to hold the apartment. The money-ask was a warning flag for her. She was equally concerned about following a link from a stranger. My caller was smart. She pulled back from the exchange. She searched the property address and discovered it was legitimately listed on Zillow and Realtor.com with a licensed real estate agent (me) at a price higher than the scammer was quoting. As soon as she withdrew from the conversation, she noticed that the post was deleted and she could no longer locate the scammer’s profile. She kindly called me directly to let me know. I’m relieved that she wasn’t a victim, but unfortunately, I can’t control or prevent the unauthorized recycling of publicly listed property information by scammers looking for a quick score. Instead, I can warn the general public to beware of grifters, and steer clear of properties being listed casually by non-professionals, outside of established real estate platforms. Even if you are an established homeowner, your friend or relative (college student, divorcing person, job transferee) may need a rental. Be aware that there are shady operators who create fake profiles to hastily post a fraudulent rental opportunity, hoping to hook someone into replying and transferring money. Once the money hits their account, the post and profile disappear. A scammer may ask to meet in person to take a deposit, with an excuse preventing you from being able to see the interior. That’s because they have no legal access, and it’s criminal to use the address fraudulently. Can you rent an apartment directly from a landlord without an agent? Yes, but you could be exposing yourself to criminals looking to take advantage. You might be happier and safer with the help of a professional - a licensed agent, an inhouse property manager, or a sales rep from a multi-dwelling property. In New Jersey, a real estate agent can’t legally accept direct payment from a client. Any commission payment must go through the agent’s brokerage. For screening, my brokerage provides access to an encrypted service. The tenant fills out an online application and pays a small fee directly to the screening network. The agent and landlord do not receive any compensation for the screening, while the prospective tenant’s personal and financial information is protected. If the tenant is approved and accepted by the landlord, we create a lease for both parties to sign. Only at this point will the tenant be obligated to provide cashier’s checks for rent, broker fees, and security deposit. Consumers can look out for rental scams by cross-referencing properties with reputable real estate websites. Red flags include unrealistic prices, inaccuracies in property details or location, or a request to send a deposit without a tour of the property. Another way to protect yourself from exploitation is to secure professional representation. Local expert Johanna Wiseman Johanna Wiseman of RE/MAX Preferred Professionals can be reached at 908-705-0652, or visit MyBridgewaterHome.com. REAL ESTATE CORNER Social Media Rental Scam By Johanna Wiseman R
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