FBI warns of rental, real estate frauds

SAN DIEGO - The FBI is warning property owners and real estate customers to be alert for potential scams stemming from online advertisements. The agency’s cyber investigations unit has received numerous complaints from victims of scams involving apartments and home rentals and as well as online real estate sales.

One type of scam begins when a property owner is contacted by a prospective tenant. Once a rental price is agreed upon, the scammer forwards a check for the deposit on the rental property.

The check, which is purportedly sent to cover housing expenses, is often written in excess of th...