Fake Eviction Scams: How shady landlords resort to scammy tactics to kick tenants out of their apartments
With the economy in a frightening free fall and unemployment is on the rise, renters often have anxiety attacks over the impending first of the month when rent is due. But what if you’re a renter who has a stable job and has never been late with your rent — in other words, you’re a dream tenant? Yet rather suddenly you’re presented with a notice of eviction with no reason given. You’ve likely just become a (potential) victim of the “Fake Eviction Notice” scam.
Many landlords and property investment companies are eager to rid their properties of long-time renters so that they can easily “upgrade” the apartment complex in order to attract prospective tenants who can afford the higher rents that will be coming. It doesn’t matter that you’ve lived in your apartment for 20+ years, always paying your rent on time and basically being a good tenant. Greedy landlords are more interested in bringing in renters with deep pockets and they will gleefully kick out long-time tenants by any means necessary. Some landlords will employ lawful evictions whenever possible, mostly in the form of a notice of eviction without cause, usually giving those tenants 30 or 60 days to move out (that’s when they want to clean out their property of long-time tenants en masse). However, other landlords will often go the illegal route: harassment, fraudulent landlord, or relative move-ins, and of course, fake eviction notices.
What does a fake eviction notice look like?
You might receive one of these bogus “eviction notices” either in the mail or left at your door (some landlords might even hire a uniformed security guard to present the fake eviction notice to you in person). The letter might have “Eviction Notice” (or “Notice of Eviction”) in a large bold red font across the top of the letter, mostly to increase your adrenaline and provoke massive anxiety and panic, dramatically insisting that you must move out or face scary legal consequences. These notices may use a legalese script severely informing the tenant that they have a specific number of days to vacate the premises before the landlord takes them to court or simply changes the locks.
But all of this is intimidation by bluffing, and it might work on tenants who haven’t the legal knowledge to understand that this notice is completely fake, nor any resources to fight for their right to stay in their apartment. It’s especially frightening for renters who are not fluent enough in English or are undocumented, maybe with an expired visa.
How to tell when an eviction notice is fake
Understand that eviction notices are required to meet certain rules. If those requirements are not met, those notices are improper and not valid. The best thing is to remain calm and not panic and follow these tells.
Was the notice in writing? Oftentimes landlords attempt to begin an amiable conversation or send a casual email about an eviction. They may use a relaxed tone or informal approach to make it seem as if they are doing the renter a favor by “warning” them. However a valid eviction notice must be provided in writing.
Does the notice provide a reason for the eviction? If your city or state has rent control laws, then the landlord must have a just cause for the eviction. Be sure to research those laws for your jurisdiction (via official city/state websites) in order to arm yourself with any and all rent control requirements. For apartments not covered by rent control, the eviction must still adhere to your lease and state law (it’s a good idea to review your lease agreement). Every renter should carefully review the eviction notice in order to determine if the “document” provides a valid reason for the eviction, as well as whether or not the stated reason actually applies to the situation, as best can be determined.
Was there a reasonable amount of time given to vacate? A landlord must provide the legally required notice before proceeding with an eviction. A notice cannot simply state that a tenant has only a few days or weeks to move out. The required notice period depends on the reason for the eviction, but it is often 30 days or longer.
Does the notice list the landlord’s information? Eviction notices not listing your landlord’s business or personal name or contact information in the text of the letter means that it is highly unlikely that the “notice” is real.
If you are still flummoxed by receipt of an eviction notice that appears suspect, you should seek legal help (there are also organizations that can help you to determine if the notice is real or not). Attorneys and law advocates can assist you in figuring out whether the notice is real by determining if it is lawful or a violation of your rights. They can then recommend the next steps to take.
Information regarding the “fake eviction notice” scam
How To Tell If An Eviction Notice Is Fake?
Are you staring at an eviction notice that feels off and wondering whether it’s a fake? Navigating the fine print, signatures, and legal timelines can be confusing, and this article will cut through the noise to give you clear, actionable steps.
How to Recognize and Avoid Fake Eviction Notices
Receiving an eviction notice can be stressful, but it’s even worse if the notice turns out to be a fake. Scammers sometimes use false eviction notices to trick renters into paying fees or “back rent” that they don’t owe. In other cases, landlords may send unauthorized eviction notices to pressure tenants without following legal procedures. At Section 8 Shield, we’ve seen how fake eviction notices target renters and have developed this guide to help you identify them, avoid scams, and understand your rights.
Avoid scammers offering to pay your rent
If you’re facing eviction for any reason, there are organizations out there who can help you. But there are also fake “organizations” and “charities” who can hurt you.
COVID-19 has created an even greater opportunity for scammers to target people — people who are just trying to get help with paying their rent or taking care of other financial needs. Scammers may call, email, or text, saying you can get money for rent. Or they may say they can get you legal help to avoid eviction. No matter what kind of help they promise, these scammers always tell you to give them money up front or hand over your personal information first. But those are dead giveaways that it’s a scam.
