Only pay deposits after you have viewed the property and have done some verification of the property ownership.
Always view a property inside and outside before entering into an agreement or parting with any money. Any genuine landlord or agent will be able to arrange for you to enter the property.
View the property from the outside at a different time of day from that arranged, for example in the evening to ensure that a �vacant� property is not already occupied.
Before viewing a property, check to see if the photos in the advertisement match the photos on Jamaica Classified Online or our app. If you are suspicious, dig deeper to see if the same pictures are used on other listings with different addresses � indicating a fraudulent listing.
If dealing with an agent online, always call them on the phone or make sure they have a fixed address, and visit their premises.
Consider using only reputable high street tenancy agents such as our Search Assistance Services. The possible extra cost is worth extra peace of mind when it comes to integrity and some degree of vetting.
Ask for legally required documents. They may give you the paper trail you need to be confident an advert for a property is not a scam.
Ask the landlord for identification.
Check that the rental price is typical of properties of that type in the area in which you are looking. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Do not forward money via money transfer services such as Western Union and MoneyGram. They are intended only for transactions between yourself and people you know and trust. They can also be picked up virtually anywhere in the world and with a minimum of or no identification � and are almost impossible to trace once the money has been collected.
Wherever possible, pay deposits and up-front rentals by credit card as this may provide protection against fraud.
If you are a landlord renting out a property, do not accept payments that involve redirecting part of the rent to another party.
Always check references and carry out credit checks on prospective tenants.
Do not be afraid to ask questions, however silly you think they may sound.
