Scammed Online. Now What?

Many people hunting for apartments don't take action after they've suffered an apartment rental scam. Some refuse to act because of many strong feelings, like fear, anger, embarrassments, or denial. But you can feel empowered by taking action right after you've suffered a rental scam.

What Can You Do After a Scam?

If you are a victim of rental scam, here are some things you can do to protect yourself and others.

Call The Police

If you've been scammed, the first thing you should do is to contact your local law enforcement. Even if you are not sure you are pursuing the right option, the information you provide to the police might be enough to apprehend the scammer and help you get back your money.

Contact Facebook and the Group Admins

If the scam started from an advertisement or listing, you have to alert people about what happened. This means messaging group moderators as well as contacting Facebook itself.

File a Complaint With the FTC

If you were scammed of a rental property in the United States, you can report it to the federal consumer property agency, Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can contact the FTC on their toll-free hotline at 1-877-382-4357 or fill out a FTC online form to file a complaint.

Filing a Complaint With the IC3

The victim of a rental scam or third party to the complainant can complain to the Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3). The IC3 can best process these complaints if the right and complete information is sent to them.