Fake Paystubs??? Landlords beware!

[Nathan Gesner]

Have you seen these websites? Anyone can create fake paystubs, tax forms, and more. 

How do you screen for things like this?

[Greg Scott]

We've been getting fake W2s regularly since COVID. 

We always request prospective residents provide copies of the bank statements where their paychecks are deposited. There are no websites (yet) that provide both a fake W2 and a fake bank account that shows the monies deposited.  If the bank statements don't match the W2, we assume the W2 is fake.

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Greg Scott:

We've been getting fake W2s regularly since COVID. 

We always request prospective residents provide copies of the bank statements where their paychecks are deposited. There are no websites (yet) that provide both a fake W2 and a fake bank account that shows the monies deposited.  If the bank statements don't match the W2, we assume the W2 is fake.

Good tip!

We call the employer, and we never use the phone number provided by the applicant because they could be routing us to a friend or family member. We look the employer up online and use the website number.

[Wesley W.]

I do exactly what @Nathan Gesner describes.

[Dennis McNeely]

In our application, I ask for the employers name and number as well as the prospective tenant's boss's contact information. The prospect signs an authorization allowing us to contact the employer to confirm their rate of pay and the duration of their employment. Generally there's no problem if we have the the signed authorization and email / fax it to them.

We also ask the employer if we can talk to the boss regarding their employment - although that request meets with mixed results.

[Wesley W.]

Our application has a release for information included, which becomes usable once they sign the app:

AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE INFORMATION— The landlord or landlord’s representative who will verify information is (PM name). By signing below, applicant(s) give permission to (1) current and former employers to release any information about applicants’ employment history and income history to the above named person;

(2) current and former landlords to release any information about applicants’ rental history to the above named person; (3) current and former mortgage lenders on property that applicants’ own or have owned to release any information about mortgage payment history to the above named person; (4) bank, savings and loan, or credit union to provide a verification of funds that applicants’ have on deposit to the above named person, and (5) to the above named person to obtain a copy of applicants’ consumer report (credit report) from any consumer reporting agency and to obtain criminal background information about applicants. All such information hereon, and released as authorized above, will be kept confidential. This application is for qualification purposes only. Applicant understands that landlord may accept multiple applications for this rental unit and retains sole discretion to select the most qualified applicant. APPLICANT REPRESENTS THAT THE INFORMATION SET FORTH ON THIS APPLICATION IS TRUE AND COMPLETE. Material misrepresentations or omissions on the Application will constitute a default under the Lease or Rental Agreement between the parties, and applicant will be responsible for the cost of any background checks performed. This application may not be considered eligible for evaluation if it contains blank spaces or incomplete information.

 On the app, I also ask for their direct supervisor's work LANDLINE, as well as their work email.  This circumvents HR, which usually just sends me to The Work Number, one of the most useless companies since the establishment of western civilization.