YOU’RE ONLINE, LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE. YOU FIND ONE THAT APPEARS TO BE A GREAT DEAL. REBECCA BRANCH WITH THE NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE SAYS YOU NEED TO BE ON GUARD AS THERE HAS BEEN A RISE IN RENTAL SCAMS IN THE STATE.
BRANCH SAYS AN ABSENTEE LANDLORD IS A SIGN THAT THE LISTING MAY BE A SCAM. SHE SAYS YOU’LL ALSO BE ASKED TO SEND MONEY TO SECURE THE RENTAL. SHE SAYS BEING ASKED TO WIRE MONEY OR PAY A RENTAL DEPOSIT WITH A PRE-PAID CREDIT CARD IS ALWAYS A RED FLAG THAT THE LISTING IS NOT LEGITIMATE.
SHE SAYS THEY’RE SEEING THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY IN THE STATE’S LARGER CITIES, SUCH AS ALBUQUERQUE, SANTA FE AND LAS CRUCES. REPORT ANY SUSPICIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE TO THE A-G’S OFFICE.
