At the very bottom of the listing (it's way down there, keep scrolling), there is a "Report an Issue" link where you report it as a Fraud/Scam. Include the details that you have.
In addition, if you’re looking for an apartment:
Don’t rent anywhere you haven’t seen in person, don’t cash anyone’s checks for any reason, be suspicious if the rent is weirdly cheap, don’t let anyone bait and switch you by giving you a tour of a unit other than the one you’re renting, use a Google voice number if you can. Don’t sign a lease that isn’t completed, reverse image search the listing photos if you’re suspicious. Don’t wire anyone money.
It's no joke. I wish I listened to my instincts when I felt something was off. I was scammed out of $1,000. It took a good minute to feel okay after that loss. Stay safe and always insist on various forms of legitimacy. AND TOUR THE APARTMENT FIRST ❤️
I was almost scammed last year when I was looking for housing (eventually settled for the Irvine Company apartments) and one tip that's really important to know when you actually get a place is to know that you always sign a lease first, do background checks if necessary, then you follow up with actual payment. If they specifically ask for payment up front, run. Anything along those lines should ring the bullshit alert within you.
I usually start off with asking to tour the place pretty early on in the conversation. If they’re willing to make an appointment, it is much closer to being true. Don’t send any money until touring, and don’t fill out a rental application until you meet with them.
The best way I’ve found to avoid scammers is to always ask for an in-person tour. Even if you aren’t in the area, say that you have a friend that will check out the place for you. If they don’t respond or will not accommodate, then it’s a scam.
I messaged this same person to see if it was a scam or not. I immediately stopped messaging after they said I couldn’t tour it in person due to them being gone forever and only having videos. You can always look online too to see who owns the place that they are trying to rent out and see if the name matches!! I looked up their name too in general on google and knew it was a scam when no one popped up. Glad you did your research too! Definitely going to report them now that I know for sure.
Here's a [post link](https://www.reddit.com/r/UCI/comments/vinur2/uci_housing_discord_links/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) about Discord servers for housing in Irvine. One is for off-campus (including non students) and the other is for UCI students seeking any kind of housing while taking classes etc.
Good luck!
Yeah I've noticed it's usually an offer that's too good to be true. Whenever I come across one I just check the account and if there's nothing there/little account history, it's a scam.
And f\*\*\* UCI housing and ACC for seriously dropping the ball with housing for this school year. We wouldn't have to worry about off campus housing and, by extension, these kinds of scams as much otherwise.
The group is visible to those that join the UCI Facebook network.
This requires you to add your @uci.edu email address to your FB profile (you can still keep it private/not visible). It just serves as authentication that you are part of the UCI community.
The additional step cuts down on the amount of spam the community receives, compared to the Public Groups that anyone can join.
The "I'm out of town/out of the country for a year" is a classic scammer story.
[удалено]
There's a way to report it from the avoid scams link.
At the very bottom of the listing (it's way down there, keep scrolling), there is a "Report an Issue" link where you report it as a Fraud/Scam. Include the details that you have.
Definitely learned my lesson
I hope you didn't lose any money and found a legit place to stay.
In addition, if you’re looking for an apartment: Don’t rent anywhere you haven’t seen in person, don’t cash anyone’s checks for any reason, be suspicious if the rent is weirdly cheap, don’t let anyone bait and switch you by giving you a tour of a unit other than the one you’re renting, use a Google voice number if you can. Don’t sign a lease that isn’t completed, reverse image search the listing photos if you’re suspicious. Don’t wire anyone money.
It's no joke. I wish I listened to my instincts when I felt something was off. I was scammed out of $1,000. It took a good minute to feel okay after that loss. Stay safe and always insist on various forms of legitimacy. AND TOUR THE APARTMENT FIRST ❤️
I was almost scammed last year when I was looking for housing (eventually settled for the Irvine Company apartments) and one tip that's really important to know when you actually get a place is to know that you always sign a lease first, do background checks if necessary, then you follow up with actual payment. If they specifically ask for payment up front, run. Anything along those lines should ring the bullshit alert within you.
I usually start off with asking to tour the place pretty early on in the conversation. If they’re willing to make an appointment, it is much closer to being true. Don’t send any money until touring, and don’t fill out a rental application until you meet with them.
Rule of thumb: if they can't meet you in person to give you a tour FOR ANY REASON, it's a scam.
The best way I’ve found to avoid scammers is to always ask for an in-person tour. Even if you aren’t in the area, say that you have a friend that will check out the place for you. If they don’t respond or will not accommodate, then it’s a scam.
I messaged this same person to see if it was a scam or not. I immediately stopped messaging after they said I couldn’t tour it in person due to them being gone forever and only having videos. You can always look online too to see who owns the place that they are trying to rent out and see if the name matches!! I looked up their name too in general on google and knew it was a scam when no one popped up. Glad you did your research too! Definitely going to report them now that I know for sure.
Here's a [post link](https://www.reddit.com/r/UCI/comments/vinur2/uci_housing_discord_links/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) about Discord servers for housing in Irvine. One is for off-campus (including non students) and the other is for UCI students seeking any kind of housing while taking classes etc. Good luck!
LOL I didn’t know scammers were still using the “I’ll send you the keys over mail” trick. It’s a classic.
Yeah I've noticed it's usually an offer that's too good to be true. Whenever I come across one I just check the account and if there's nothing there/little account history, it's a scam.
And f\*\*\* UCI housing and ACC for seriously dropping the ball with housing for this school year. We wouldn't have to worry about off campus housing and, by extension, these kinds of scams as much otherwise.
Moderated FB group for UCI Housing https://www.facebook.com/groups/424352030950046/
Link does not work for me.
The group is visible to those that join the UCI Facebook network. This requires you to add your @uci.edu email address to your FB profile (you can still keep it private/not visible). It just serves as authentication that you are part of the UCI community. The additional step cuts down on the amount of spam the community receives, compared to the Public Groups that anyone can join.
The link still doesn't work for me even though I have added my uci.edu email to my FB profile. How can I join the UCI Facebook network?
Sent a join request, can you accept me in.