Watch Out for Sublet Scams
UW–Madison’s Campus Area Housing Office is warning students about a recent upsurge in rental scams in Madison. Students trying to find someone to sublet their apartments are especially vulnerable. Here are a few tips to identify scams:
- The e-mail message will come by way of “bcc” or blind copy.
- The grammar and spelling will usually be poor.
- The e-mail will use broad terms, rather than specifics, about an apartment.
- The scammer will offer to send more money than required. The money will be sent in a cashier’s check, which the student cashes at a financial institution, wiring back the excess money. A few days later the bank will learn that the check is bad and will seek to recoup those funds from the student — including the money sent to the scammer.
For more information about rental scams, visit the Campus Area Housing website.