> The aim is for these to filter through to search-engine results, so potential victims will be alerted if they type in the scammer's name.
This helped me so much with apartment hunting. I caught multiple fake listings by just googling parts of the language.
Basically, everything needed for identity theft
Person is moving to a new city, needs a place, but doesn't have the time or budget to travel and inspect in person. They play it safe by picking an upstanding, corporate looking listing... all they need to do is make a deposit...
They show up with suitcases to a building that's never heard of them.
She was in Australia, I think. The apartment was in London. Of course she wanted somewhere to live as soon as she landed, so she had to do it remotely. Bad result.
Also in London, go private rental helps avoid the ridiculous agency fees.
Did people do this before the internet? It's amazing how a "corporate" looking website can convince rational people to be incredibly trusting.
So yeah, never do that.
I once rented a shitty apartment that I knew was shitty and could see was shitty. I needed some place to live right then and there and they weren't asking too much for rent. I wasn't planning on living there more than a year. Ended up living there two years due to medical issues delaying home buying but still don't regret living there at all.
Plus, you reserve hotel rooms sight unseen.
There's even been cases of people posing as fake real estate agents to "rent" apartments. If your dealing with a real estate agent then ask for their ID like you would a landlord, and the license number, and look up their real estate license online.
Plus all the PII you put on the application is a bonus.
So you pay a "landlord" for an apartment, you show up with a moving truck to collect the keys, and the "landlord" is gone with your money.