Scams are on the rise. Annually, Americans lose billions of dollars to scams. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported $8.8 billion was stolen from customers in scams in 2022, a 30% increase from 2021.
No one wants to be deceived and have their money stolen. Do not become a victim of a scam and have your dream of independent living deferred because you did not know the warning signs.
One of the recommended tips for avoiding housing scams is to talk to a HUD-certified housing counselor if you receive an offer that sounds questionable or are pressured to sign up and pay for a program or service. Listed below are examples of a few housing scams:
1. Print ads and emails advertising housing for much less than the market rate, and you are asked to give a deposit before seeing the unit without completing an application, or without meeting in a rental or professional office.
2. The only payment method accepted is cash, wire transfer, cash app, or other methods that cannot be reversed or disputed. Trustworthy companies accept checks and credit cards.
3. Rent-to-own offer that is being used as a scam. The FTC says some rent-to-own scams include:
- the “seller” does not own the property,
- the owner has not paid property taxes,
- the house is in terrible shape or has issues like lead or asbestos,
- promised fixes are not made after a contract is signed, or
- the house is getting foreclosed on.
| FYI Corner |
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Beware of Social Security and Medicare Scams |
In addition, the federal and D.C. governments provide tips on how to avoid scams. You can also sign-up to receive emails alerts on the latest scams, what to do if a scammer contacts you, and how to report it; see the links below:
Additional scams to avoid:
What are some common types of scams? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov)
Beware of Social Security and Medicare Scams | disb (dc.gov)
Beware of Medicaid Renewal Scams | disb (D.C..gov)
Beware of IRS Tax Scams | disb (dc.gov)
Grandparent Scam | disb (dc.gov)
DISB Consumer Alerts | disb (dc.gov)
Sign-up to receive Scam Alerts:
Sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.
Report scams and bad business practices:
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Contact the D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking (DISB): 202-727-8000