If you’re skimming craigslist or other classifieds, be wary. Many scammers purport to be landlords, and their goal is to get your personal information.
Almost every landlord out there, especially in big cities, like New York City and San Francisco, requires personal identifying information, often including you social security number (SSN). Therefore, it’s difficult to tell whether you’re dealing with a scammer. Essentially, you could be giving your SSN to a trustworthy source, or an identity thief.
So, is there any way to protect yourself?
Yes. First, never give out your SSN without first meeting with or at least speaking with the landlord. Also, make sure you know the landlord’s office location and his or her name, and double check that he/she exists — run a Google search. Finally, try to get some references — see if you can talk to a current or past tenant before submitting your application.
Also, when giving out your SSN, it might be worth putting a watch on your credit score.