In Madison’s hot property market, rental scams are nothing new. But there’s been an increasingly common twist that’s catching some renters off-guard. QR codes – the blocks of black and white squares that our cell phones can easily translate into web links – are more frequently being used legitimately by property companies and landlords. However, some bad actors are using similar QR codes to connect unsuspecting renters to their own fraudulent sites. Often, these false sites mimic the real ones. Their goal: collect some form of payment, like a deposit or rental fee, as quickly as possible. If the scam goes undetected, the fraudster can continue using the provided financial information for additional unauthorized transactions.

Use these tips to avoid falling victim to a QR code rental scam:

• Review the actual URL of the site the code sends you to; make sure it’s what you thought it was. Watch for URLs that are close to, but not exactly identical to, the site you want. Scammers can creatively place dots, hyphens, or other symbols to closely replicate another site’s URL.
• Don’t send any payment for a property you’ve never seen or to a property owner you’ve never met. Scammers will give many plausible-sounding reasons why they can’t meet you or show you the property; don’t trust them. And a virtual tour won’t suffice, as they’re easy to fake.
• Be highly suspicious of landlords who request payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or money transfers. These are like handing cash to someone; there is little protection if the offer is fraudulent.
• Don’t trust a monthly rental rate that’s significantly below what comparable properties are going for in the same market. If the offer is too good to be true…it probably is.
• Do some online searching using the rental company’s name combined with words like “scam,” “fraud,” or “complaint.” If you get a lot of hits, beware.

New apartment complexes are being built in Madison at a record pace, but it will take time for rental space supply to catch up with demand. That means the challenges of finding an affordable apartment in Madison won’t end soon. Scammers rely on this reduced supply to pressure renters into making decisions they normally wouldn’t, given time and research. Use this information to protect yourself and your finances from these unscrupulous parties.