There are a number of different scams that you need to watch out for when it comes to renting an apartment. While there are a ton of great landlords out there you can work with, there are also a lot of scammers out there who are trying to steal your information or get more money from you. One of the signs that you can look at is a lease that seems to be really long and asks for sensitive information the landlord does not need.

Some rental scams try to kill two birds with one stone. They will try to take your money if possible while also taking your personal information to commit identity theft if you let them. Some of the warning signs that this is going on include:

# The scammer is going to send out a rental application that they require you to fill out before you meet them or before you have a chance to view the rental in person.

# The document requires a lot of information about the tenant such as their social security number, driver’s license number, credit card number, date of birth, and home address. Your landlord does not need all of this information, especially before you have a chance to take a look at the unit and see if it is right for you.

# While it is possible that they will request the information by saying they do their due diligence, it is actually done as a way for them to gather more information. If you haven’t seen the property and can’t get any information on it, then you should not provide any of this information to the landlord or you could put yourself at risk at the same time.

As a potential tenant, you should never add sensitive information about yourself without looking at the rental space and meeting the owner. They may need your social security for the background and credit check, but you should have a chance to see if you are even interested in the unit before handing that over.

Come and check out our one bedroom apartment homes in Deerfield, IL to see if they are the right ones for you to call a new home. We offer some of the best units and many of our tenants like having that bedroom to provide that extra privacy that they need in their new home. Whether you would like to look at a one-bedroom apartment or you are more interested in another unit size, we are here to help you take a look and see which apartments are the right ones for you. Come and take a tour of our units today!