Houston renters are losing hundreds, even thousands of dollars to rental scams that look legitimate but are designed to steal money and personal information.
KPRC 2 News reporter Amy Davis explains how these scams work and what renters should watch out for.
Fake rental ads trick renters with credit check schemes
Nearly 60% of Houstonians rent their homes, making rental scams a serious threat to many.
The Federal Trade Commission recently warned that people have lost $65 million to rental scams, with younger renters ages 18 to 29 falling victim more than any other age group.
How rental scams work
Scammers often use photos from legitimate rental listings but change the contact information. They pressure potential renters to pay money upfront before seeing the property in person…