Knowing how to spot identity theft and false information can help prevent you, as a landlord, from becoming a victim of tenant fraud in Texas. Tenant fraud is a false representation by a tenant that, when acted upon, can lead to the legal injury of the landlord.
What forms can tenant fraud in Texas take?
Tenant fraud in Texas, or any state, can take multiple forms. Tenants can falsify information on applications with the intent of defrauding potential landlords. A tenant may also move in with no intention of paying rent, just waiting until they are evicted. Some potential tenants may have stolen someone’s identity to be approved for move-in. Tenant fraud in Texas can also come about because the tenant wrote a check for which he or she knew there was not sufficient funds.
What are some red flags that I may be dealing with a fraudulent tenant?
There can be many signs that can indicate that you may be the victim of tenant fraud in Texas. If a potential tenant claims to have always lived with parents or friends and will not provide a current or previous landlord, take notice. Always ask for 2 or more forms of ID. If a tenant will not provide such, then you could be dealing with tenant fraud in Texas. If a potential tenant provides his own credit report, make sure you still run your own credit check, even if (or especially if) he or she tries to come up with reason for you to not run the credit report. Make sure you ask questions about the rental application to make sure they easily answer without anxiety or hesitation. If they have falsified information on the application, they will likely not be able to comfortably answer questions about the application.
You can find a lot of information about criminal fraud, but for extra detail, check out Criminal Fraud. You can find more information about all kinds of fraud there. We can help you find lots of options for preventing criminal fraud by assisting with great background checks. Feel free to call us with any questions you may have! You can contact Acutraq at 281-713-8637 in Houston. Preventing tenant fraud in Texas is one of the things that we can do to help your make sure you protect your investment!
