Renters searching for an affordable home in the greater Tampa Bay region have another hurdle to overcome: internet scams.
Many are of the low-dollar variety, like the one that ensnared Dominic Cwiklinsi in June.
Cwiklinsi was searching Zillow in June when he spotted a rental within his monthly budget — a rarity in Tampa Bay’s surging market, he said.
Eager, he applied through a third-party website, electronically paid the $30 fee and never heard back.
Although the online listing appeared legitimate, Cwiklinski believes he fell victim to a rental scam created to fish for application fees. He said the property remained listed for more than a month — likely shamming hundreds of potential renters just like him.
“They try to have you send them money, or application fees, in order to hold the place,” he said. Sometimes, asking for a security deposit or first- and last-month’s rent. And often, asking for fees to be paid up front, without touring the property.
Authorities say scams like these are becoming more common in the greater Tampa Bay region. With little inventory and lots of people looking for places to live, the housing market is ripe for scammers.
On it’s website, Zillow warns about this kind of foul play, saying it could happen on any website where users can self-advertise rental listings, including Craigslist, eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
“This is particularly true if you’re on a tight deadline to find a place,…
