Cyber-safety for rental applicants

It is important to keep your personal details safe when applying for properties online. To ensure your cyber safety, Code Property Group lists their top tips below.

The dangers of cyber-crime are more apparent now than they ever have been before, and a new scam has been brought to our attention here at Code Property Group. Hackers are now posing as Sunshine Coast agents to coax vulnerable people in to sending through bond payments for a property they will never reside in. These scammers are taking advantage of rental applicants that are simply applying for a place to call home. So, how do they gain your trust and how can you trust legitimate agents? Keep reading.

On Monday morning, Code Property Group was made aware of a new internet scam that involved hackers imitating local real estate agents by weaving an intricate web of lies to gain trust and ultimately convince rental applicants to send through bond money. The scam begins with potential tenants being contacted via email asking if they are interested in a property that the scammer is “renting out”. Depending on the tenant’s reply, the hacker will ask what areas the tenant is interested in moving to and based on their answer, a simple Google search will bring up properties and their respective rental agents in the desired area which then becomes the basis of the bond scam. This cyber scam involves communication from what tenants believe to be a trusted real estate agent, even sending through fake rental contracts to sign with company logos attached making the story extremely believable.

To protect any further tenants from being lulled into a false sense of security by hackers, Code Property Group have listed our top tips when it comes to cyber safety and applying for rental properties.

1. Always check that communication coming from an agent’s email address correctly matches their name and website listing.
2. Never transfer money into a bank account that is unfamiliar to you. Real estate agencies will often have a trust account that includes the agency name rather than an individual person’s account.
3. Wait for verbal confirmation for any tenancy agreement. Agents often call successful tenants to congratulate them and clarify details regarding their new tenancy.
4. Contact agents directly if you are interested in a property. Most agents have their phone number and email address displayed next to their listed property. Code Property Group recommends sending any enquiries directly through to agents rather than third parties.

It is imperative for applicants searching for tenancies to remain vigilant when disclosing their personal information online. Anyone who encounters a cybercrime is encouraged to report via scamwatch.gov.au to protect others.