Warning: Sublet Scams
UW–Madison’s Campus Area Housing Office is warning students about a recent upsurge in rental scams in Madison. Students trying to find someone to sublet their apartments are especially vulnerable. Here are a few tips to identify scams:
- The message will come by way of “BCC” or blind-copy.
- The grammar and spelling will usually be poor.
- The e-mail will not say anything specific about the apartment—only very broad terms will be used.
- The scammer will offer to send more money than required. The money will be sent in a cashier’s check, which the student cashes at a financial institution, wiring back the excess money. A few days later the bank will learn that the check is bad and will seek to recoup those funds from the student— including the money sent to the scammer.
For more information about rental scams visit the Camping Area Housing Web site.