Rently, Tenant Turner, and Showmojo are all compatible with lockboxes ( like CodeBox) and offer similar levels of security: pre-screening questions, credit card used to verify, and one-time-use codes that expire after an hour. Not all self-showing technology is equally secure.
Showmojo codebox how to#
So, how did this happen? How was the scammer able to access the one-time-use codes for the lockbox? The same way a lot of scammers do it: he signed up for a self-guided tour, most likely used a stolen credit card, and was given the code to the lockbox that he then provided to unknowing prospects.Īs a property manager or landlord, how can you maximize showing availability with self-guided tours, while also protecting the property and prospective renters from scams? How to mitigate the risk of self-guided tour scams That’s when it clicked and Smith realized she had been scammed. Unfortunately, she sent him the money and, after, he requested an additional $650 to remove the lockbox. Smith got the code, self-toured the property and loved it, but things started to seem fishy when the scammer wanted $1,600 (first and last month’s rent) wired to him via Bitcoin before he sent her the lease. This “landlord” told her that he was unable to show the place himself, as he was in Florida, but he was able to send her the lockbox code so she could tour the property herself. She was thrilled when she found a home in a good location for a great price, and immediately contacted who she believed was the listing owner. In June of 2020, Tonya Smith was desperately looking for a place for her and her kids to live in Kansas City, Missouri.
Even with lockboxes and one-time-use codes that expire after an hour, scammers have figured out a way to still make money off of prospective renters that are desperate for a good deal, or even just a place to live. Self-showing scams happen when there aren’t enough safety measures in place. What would a self-guided tour scam look like? Let’s take a look at what a self-showing scam could look like, how you can protect against potential scams, and what you can do to make the property as secure as possible. When it comes to self-guided tours, there are many concerns among property managers about safety measures, how to make sure properties are kept secure, and how to make sure prospective renters are kept safe from any potential scams. Between COVID-19 and the rise of younger renters hitting the rental market, self-guided tours, or “self-showings,” have become a very popular way to tour rental properties.
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