This is how the property rental identity theft scammers operate. They probably don’t have access to the property they’re advertising. If they’re legit, then you can fill out the form in person, at the property. If they get defensive about showing you the inside of the property, it’s because they can’t. Pictures of the interior prove nothing.
Sometimes there’s an application fee, sometimes there isn’t. Getting $30 from you isn’t the point of the scam, it’s getting personal info they can use to set up credit cards or w/e in your name, or use your current address to run other scams &etc. Don’t ever give out anything more than your email address (maybe phone number but I’d still be cautious with that) until they can prove they control the property. Definitely don’t send them a credit report - hand them a print in person if they need it.
While landlords often aren’t great, they aren’t to blame for this sort of thing.
That’s a scam.
This is how the property rental identity theft scammers operate. They probably don’t have access to the property they’re advertising. If they’re legit, then you can fill out the form in person, at the property. If they get defensive about showing you the inside of the property, it’s because they can’t. Pictures of the interior prove nothing.
Sometimes there’s an application fee, sometimes there isn’t. Getting $30 from you isn’t the point of the scam, it’s getting personal info they can use to set up credit cards or w/e in your name, or use your current address to run other scams &etc. Don’t ever give out anything more than your email address (maybe phone number but I’d still be cautious with that) until they can prove they control the property. Definitely don’t send them a credit report - hand them a print in person if they need it.
While landlords often aren’t great, they aren’t to blame for this sort of thing.