Rental safety reminder: Before paying any money, verify that the property PIN, the name on the lease, and the name on the rent-receiving bank account all match the same landlord.
Ask the landlord for the property PIN and confirm it on the County website.
Check that the owner name on the tax / PIN record matches the landlord’s name.
Make sure the lease is signed under the same name.
Pay rent only to a bank account whose account holder name is the same as the landlord / lease name.
Be careful with cash, gift cards, or payment apps if the name does not match.