Scams are out there and around every corner these days. As a property manager, it is important to know how to protect yourself and your business from falling victim to one of these scams. Scams are not just for renters, but can also affect property managers as well. Check out these things to be aware of when trying to avoid a scam situation. 

Craigslist
 

Don’t trust anything you see on Craigslist. It can be a great resource, but not everything that looks good is good. Chances are, if it looks too good to be true, it is too good to be true. Always meet with the person in a public place with other people around. Never accept a personal check without first verifying that it is authentic. Get contact information and a way for you to identify them like a photocopy of their driver’s license. 

Don’t Trust Email
 

You can never really tell where an email is coming from. It could be sent from the other side of the world for all you know, with no intentions of them ever traveling here. If someone sends you an email asking if you can cash a check, don’t do it. Meet with them in person and get contact information first. 

Educate Yourself
 

Pay attention to Facebook, email newsletters, the news and more about any scams going on recently. Scams evolve all the time, so it can be hard to keep up with all of them. Knowing where to look or who to ask can be a big help when trying to figure out if something is a scam or not. Staying on top of these types of scams will allow you to more easily identify them and will cause you to act with more caution when the red flags go up. 

Don’t Post Too Much
 

Don’t post too much information about your properties online. While it might be nice to post photos of your properties online for potential residents to see, it can also create a problem by giving scammers something to post on their own website. Keep the information to a minimum and invite people to come tour your place in person. 

If you are looking for information about current scams, check out our full trainings about the latest threats and how to protect yourself. We offer development classes and sessions to help you operate your business safely and efficiently. Get in contact with us today and we’ll get you started!