| For landlords, application fraud is false and | | | | title is unusual. For example: Lion Tamer. -The job |
| deceptive statement of fact intended for | | | | title does not fit the nature of the employment. |
| landlords to rely upon in order to give up their | | | | -The salary appears to be out of the range for |
| legal right to their property in return for rent. | | | | the kind of work. For example: few roofers earn |
| Landlords should remember that when a potential | | | | over 50K a year. -Salary includes cents or other |
| renter applies to rent a unit, the landlord is in | | | | symbols. -Years employed does not correlate with |
| essence granting credit to the renter. Renter | | | | the age of the applicant. -When following up with |
| scams are different and change frequently. | | | | the employer, the employer answers his own |
| Landlords who fall victim to application fraud lose | | | | phone or has an answering machine with out |
| thousand of dollars in lost rent and damages as | | | | identifying the company. -Net/gross income is |
| well experience great inconvenience and anxiety. | | | | omitted or copied. -Net and gross income is the |
| "The Social Security number is often omitted or | | | | same or gross income is more than net income. |
| copied" | | | | -Additional or supplemental income is |
| Name -Unusual name arrangement such as two | | | | disproportionate the net income. |
| first names used as given and surnames -Unusual | | | | The Social Security number is omitted or copied |
| sounding names which are not recognizable and | | | | Bank Accounts -Account numbers are omitted |
| impossible to pronounce coupled with common | | | | -Reference numbers are abbreviated or have |
| names. -Names of known personalities such as | | | | strange symbols. -Recently opened accounts |
| Magic Johnson, Tiger Woods or Brett Farvre. | | | | -Credit references are in the same sequence as |
| For landlords, application fraud is false and | | | | on the credit report. -Payment accounts are |
| deceptive statement of fact intended for | | | | exactly the same. -Credit references are from |
| landlords to rely upon in order to give up their | | | | unknown companies or closed accounts. |
| legal right to their property in return for rent. | | | | -References do not know the applicant. -There is |
| Landlords should remember that when a potential | | | | significantly more money in checking versus |
| renter applies to rent a unit, the landlord is in | | | | savings accounts. |
| essence granting credit to the renter. Renter | | | | Other Sections of the Application -Misspellings in |
| scams are different and change frequently. | | | | the application -Applicant used P.O.boxes for |
| Landlords who fall victim to application fraud lose | | | | references or addresses -Additional residents |
| thousand of dollars in lost rent and damages as | | | | have different last names -The first four digits of |
| well experience great inconvenience and anxiety. | | | | the credit card do not coincide with the issuing |
| Many of the fraudulent applications share common | | | | bank's tax I.D. number. -Application for a second |
| characteristics that can alert landlords to take | | | | credit card for the same band. -The phone |
| further investigation. The characteristics or traits | | | | number and area code do not coincide with the |
| may signal a pattern of irregularities that indicate | | | | address -The nearest relative is often a |
| the possibility of fraud but should not be viewed | | | | professional like a doctor in an attempt to build |
| as proof of fraud. It is very hard to prove fraud, | | | | credibility. |
| in the courts, with only traits of fraud. The | | | | A careful examination of the rental application |
| following are characteristics of fraudulent behavior | | | | along with a complete screening including credit, |
| that have been used on landlords in the past and | | | | criminal and eviction reports gives the property |
| are not intended to be proof of fraud. They | | | | manager the confidence that their rental decision |
| should simply be viewed as wisdom from and a | | | | was sound. Remember, better screening brings |
| reminder to look carefully at your applications. | | | | better tenancy which translates into greater |
| Employment -The job title is misspelled. -The job | | | | profits. |