Checking References
by
Laurie Skaja
In response to our users’ inquiries as to how to check references (and because of the large amount of fraud that exists online), here are some tips we have put together to help you check references before sealing the deal on your home-exchange or rental.
1) One of the easiest ways to get an idea of a person’s authenticity is to check his or her email. You can do this through a Google search. If the domain of the email copied and pasted into a search bar shows legitimate results, ie. an academic institution or popular company, this is a good sign that the person is a valid candidate for consideration. Also, since many scammers will neglect to change their emails, you might be able to see if this particular email address has been known to be fraudulent. (Fraudulent emails are often in popular domains such as yahoo.com or hotmail.com, so look at the specific domains of a university, school, or company as a good sign.)
2) Another form of Google search that you can perform is to type in the person’s full name and see what results appear. If the person you are considering for your exchange or rental is an academic, you can utilize the Google search to find anything that the person may have published.
3) Employer inquiries are another way to check a person’s credibility. You may call an employer to get information about a person’s work history.
4) Many universities will perform Enrollment Verifications for those asking if a particular person is currently enrolled or was enrolled at one point in their lives at a specific school. The university’s Registration Office is your best bet for attaining an Enrollment Verification.
5) Credit Checks are a more difficult but helpful way of getting information on a person’s credit history. We are not sure if this option is available outside of the U.S. For credit reports, check out www.experian.com or www.equifax.com.
6) If the person is willing to submit Letters of Recommendation or Reference, make sure that the people writing the letters are legitimate by checking their emails and/or phone numbers. You may use the Google search methods above for this as well.
7) Coming soon to SabbaticalHomes.com is a way for you to share your experiences with particular members and to rate tenants and home-owners. You will be able to view feedback of previous members who have used our site for home-exchanges, rentals, etc. Look for this tool in November 2008.
We hope these tips are helpful. And please remember, never send any money for deposits until you are completely sure of a person’s authenticity.
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