How Vermont Housing scams have risen over the past few years

Read the article in Burlington Free Press.

Here is an excerpt:

Those able to access and afford housing in Vermont, face the challenge of filtering through minimally moderated platforms such as Craigslist and Facebook, which are prime targeting grounds for online scammers.

 "I think part of the problem is that we don't really have a good centralized place to look for housing," Ryan Murphy, statewide housing navigator at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) said. "The options are Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, leads through friends, and going really deep into the internet." Murphy said the issue is countrywide, but rental-related scams are likely more common in areas experiencing population booms, like Vermont has in recent years.