Rental scams are something Providence college students should watch out for when searching for off-campus housing. With students looking at apartments across areas like College Hill, Fox Point, and the areas around Downtown Providence, it's important to research a property and landlord before signing a lease or sending money.

Be especially careful if a landlord asks for payment before you've seen the property, the price seems unusually low, or you're being pressured to make a decision immediately.

At JumpOffCampus, listings are screened to help students find legitimate off-campus housing options. However, screening is only one step. Students should still do their own research and verify the property and landlord before committing. Check JumpOffCampus’ video on how to spot a rental scam.

✩ Visit the property: See the apartment or house in person whenever possible. If you can't visit, ask for a live video tour rather than relying only on photos.

✩ Verify the landlord: Make sure the person you're communicating with is actually connected to the property.

✩ Research the address: Search the property address and compare the details, photos, rent, and contact information across different sources.

✩ Read the lease: Before signing, understand the rent, security deposit, utilities, fees, lease length, and move-in requirements.

✩ Be careful with payments: Don't send money simply because someone says another student is interested or that you need to act immediately.

✩ Watch for unusually cheap listings: A price that seems far below similar Providence rentals can be a reason to investigate further.

✩ Ask questions: A legitimate landlord should be able to answer basic questions about the property, lease, utilities, and move-in process.

Finding housing should never feel rushed. Take your time, compare Worcester listings, ask questions, and do your own research before sending money or signing a lease. We at JumpOffCampus try our best to maintain our platform scam-free, but students still need to put their part in to stay safe during their search. Do your research and learn more about avoiding scams in our learning center.

Check out JumpOffCampus and begin your search for off-campus apartments in Providence, RI now!