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Updated 7 months ago on . Most recent reply

Is the applicant cheating the application/possibly using a stolen identity?
I have always used Zillow's tenant screening application process to screen tenants in the past, and it's worked out for me so far. I am currently considering an applicant that looks kind of fishy, but I wonder if I'm being paranoid. I've heard of people just putting their friends or family down as rental references and such, and forging pay stubs, but always hoped I would never encounter this. Right now, I'm pretty suspicious.
The good news is that her credit score is over 750, and I usually want over 700. Everyone over 700 has never given me any trouble, but as you'll see, I now am doubting that's her actual score.
I went to call her rental reference, and right away, I was suspicious. I'm based here in Minnesota. The applicant told me she's relocating from Miami, FL. I gave her a virtual tour of the property via Facetime tonight and asked her if she was ready for a Minnesota winter, and she told me she's actually from Minnesota and moving back home. So when I saw her listed address in Miami, I was confused as to why an area code for the Twin Cities was the number for the rental manager for her apartment. I googled the address, and it comes up as a condo for down there, but why would a 952 number be the rental manager for an apartment in Miami? Oh well, perhaps that's another person who relocated.
But then her work reference was for a remote job based out of Pennsylvania, and the number for her reference there was also a 952 number. The coincidences are adding up now to where I'm very suspicious. I checked her paystubs, and I can't find the company listed on it, other than one that has a slightly different spelling. The paystub also has misspellings of the city the office is supposedly located in.
So then I tried googling her, and a woman in Miami, FL with the same name does exist, but she looks nothing like the woman I facetimed with tonight. I'm now wondering if this woman stole her identity, and that woman is the one with the good credit score.
Am I crazy paranoid, or on to something? Anyone else caught someone cheating the application process?
Most Popular Reply

It is great that you are being really thorough with your tenant screening. I have never called a reference before in my life. It is pretty easy to find 1 to 2 people who say you were the greatest tenant ever.
Typically, the easiest way to verify this is to request additional documentation. Request a copy of her ID (if you have not done so already). Ask for 1-3 months of their most recent bank statements. It is hard to edit bank statements where the name, address, font, and spacing line up correctly for multiple months; usually, they are slightly off. If they look fine, do you see her employer's name there making deposits? If you still are unsure, have them send you a copy of their most recent (FPL) utility bill. Most fraudsters are not going to go through all of this.