Avoiding apartment rental scams

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- If you're in the market for an apartment, you're not alone. Summer is approaching, and that's a hot time of year for apartment rentals. If you're shopping on online, beware of scammers who prey on prospective renters.

"One of the first warning signs is that they tell you to wire money," said Michelle Lyng from the Colorado Apartments Association. "This is the surest sign of a scam. There's never a good reason to wire money to pay for a security deposit, an application fee, first months rent, or a vacation rental fee."

"Another way to tell is if they say they're out of the country, but they have a plan to get you the keys. Maybe there's an agent working on their behalf."

Scammers have plenty of tricks. They'll sometimes steal a photo of an actual property up for rent or sale. The scammers will then put their contact information in the listing. Renters can verify the house is real, but not much more.

"It's never a good idea to send money to someone you've never met in person. Another way is if you find the same ad listed under a different name, that's a clue it may be a scam."

The best thing to do to protect yourself is to make sure you don't pay any money without first meeting the landlord in person, and seeing the inside of the property. If you're shopping for an apartment, go to the apartment complex's website and apply there directly.

Trust your gut," Lyng said. "If it feels too good to be true, it just might be."

If you are a victim of fraud, contact local authorities. You also can contact the website where you found the listing, and contact the federal trade commission.