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BBB warns of rising rental scams ahead of holiday vacations

Posted at 2:03 PM, Dec 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-11 14:05:24-05

INDIANAPOLIS — If you're looking for a place to rent for your family holiday vacation, you need to watch out for scammers trying to take your money.

The Better Business Bureau says rental scams are on the rise.

A new study from the bureau shows criminals are posting fake rental ads for homes and apartments, taking down payments from unsuspecting customers, and leaving them without their money and without a place to stay.

One way you can avoid trouble is to make sure your prospective landlord is not asking for an unusual form of payment. Another red flag is when they prefer you pay them by wire transferring money.

The BBB says you can always search their website to find trustworthy sites to do business.