Business Insider reports that fraud within the real estate industry is on the rise. This increase is likely a reaction to a somewhat hostile housing environment. Buyers and sellers are feeling desperate, and that desperation is something unsavory characters will take advantage of. Unfortunately, these aren’t all scams we can see a mile away.

Although we know that investing in real estate online offers unprecedented access to the many potentially lucrative markets and opportunities, it isn’t a sure thing. Unfortunately, as with any business, there are those out there looking to make a quick buck – even if it comes at the expense of honest investors who worked hard to get where they are.

The majority of the time, when you see something involving “rentals” and “scams,” most people are expecting to find landlord horror stories and tales of tenants being mistreated. The real estate investor, the landlord or the property manager, in most cases, are the villains of the story. But did you know that there are would-be renters out there looking to take advantage of landlords and real estate investors?