{"id":7405,"date":"2023-10-20T17:46:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T17:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/affordablehousingonline.com\/blog\/?p=7405"},"modified":"2023-10-20T17:51:14","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T17:51:14","slug":"online-scam-fraudulently-identifies-as-hud-and-affordable-housing-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/affordablehousingonline.com\/blog\/online-scam-fraudulently-identifies-as-hud-and-affordable-housing-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Online Scam Fraudulently Identifies as HUD and Affordable Housing Online"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Affordable<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This week, Affordable Housing Online was alerted to an online scam that is impersonating not only our business, but also the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affordable Housing Online is not affiliated with this fraudulent web page and flyer, and our company is seeking legal action to stop this unauthorized use of our brand.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the HUD housing authority source that contacted us, this scam is targeting renters near the coast of California. But since it\u2019s an online scam, renters all over the country may be targeted. So, we believe it\u2019s important to let renters nationwide know how to spot and avoid this scam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scam works in two parts. First, there is a PDF document that is designed to look like a standard flyer that real HUD housing authorities use to announce a waiting list opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the top of the flyer is a logo that simply says \u201cSection 8 Assistance,\u201d and an October 2023 date in the right corner to make readers believe this is recent news. The worst offender on this flyer, however, is the text in the top left corner that makes it appear to be an official HUD document. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Real
This fraudulent flyer posing as a HUD public notice is currently being distributed online.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Posing as a federal entity is a flagrant act of fraud. There are harsh penalties for those who do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving down the flyer, there is large bold text that simply states, \u201cSection 8 Waiting List Open,\u201d and has the following sentence below it: \u201cHUD allocated $15 billion to tackle the economic crisis and prevent evictions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some clear red flags here. Readers should immediately notice that no location is mentioned in the flyer. Real public notices will let the reader know where the housing assistance is provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, the statement about the economic crisis is an unsourced, general statement. It\u2019s added to make the document appear to be genuine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below that is an application period that is conveniently open for a few more weeks. Just like the date in the header, this gives readers a false sense of urgency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last part of the flyer is a web address that readers are encouraged to visit. Affordable Housing Online is not publishing the web address of this scammer for the safety and security of renters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the page that mimics the design of news articles on our website, uses our company name, and has a deceitful byline imitating my name, Nathan Brunet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All works written by Affordable Housing Online are published only on <\/strong>AffordableHousingOnline.com<\/strong><\/a>, and our official <\/strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a> and <\/strong>X (formerly Twitter)<\/strong><\/a> social media pages.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The intent of this scam is unknown. As of the writing of this article, the fake \u201cApply online now\u201d button brings users to an error page. But this page and flyer is clearly intended to mislead renters looking for Section 8 housing. The website may be updated in the future to scam users out of money or private information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Report Fraud<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you become a victim of this, or other types of housing scams, you can report fraud online with easy-to-use forms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n