Beware Of Summer Rental Scam

(Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong and Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull are urging Connecticut residents to be wary of summer rental scams as they plan their vacations for the season.

Fraudulent rentals are one of the most common scams during summertime. Especially this year, as Connecticut and other top summer travel destinations see a higher demand for rental properties, it is important to be vigilant of deals that are scams.

“With so many of us getting vaccinated and able to travel this summer, scammers will be poised to take advantage of a hot summer rental market and a shortage of available rentals. Don’t fall victim to their predatory tactics,” Attorney General Tong said. “If you’re planning a vacation and want to rent a property, make sure you do your research. Seek out reviews of the rental company, read the fine print before you sign a contract and remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

“We’re all excited to get out of town after a year spent mostly at home, but getting scammed out of a place to stay isn’t the best way to start a vacation,” said DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull. “Start your travel on the right note by doing your research and making sure your vacation rental is legitimate before you even leave the house. Look for verified rentals and other customer reviews before booking, and add an extra layer of protection by paying with a credit card.”

Scammers know that finding the perfect vacation rental for your family and friends isn’t an easy task and that good deals are hard to pass up. Some scammers will copy a real rental listing but change the contact info and lower the price. The scammers will place the advertisement on another site like Craigslist. A victim will see the ad, believe it is legitimate and fall for the scammers fraudulent listing. In many cases, victims don’t realize that they’ve been scammed until they arrive at the location and discover their rental doesn’t exist or was never for sale.

To avoid a summer rental scam, take these precautions:

  • Visit the property before you book if possible and confirm it exists and is available for rent. If you can’t do that, look for reviews online.
  • If there are no reviews, ask for references from former renters.
  • Be on the lookout for red flags such as the owner asking you to wire money or wanting you to pay a deposit before meeting you or signing an agreement. If the owner cannot meet in person because they are out of the country, that is another red flag.
  • If you are communicating with a real estate agent, always ask for their license number and check it at eLicense Online (ct.gov).
  • Always make payments with your credit card if possible so that the charge can be reversed if the situation arises.

If you believe you have been the victim of a scam or have been contacted by a scammer, contact the Office of the Attorney General at 860-808-5318 or attorney.general@ct.gov. 

This press release was made possible by:

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Family Leave Act

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority has registered 108,911 businesses and collected more than $102 million in first quarter contributions for Connecticut’s newly established paid family and medical leave program, surpassing initial projections.

Businesses began registering for the program on January 1, 2021. Paid leave benefits will become accessible to qualified workers across the state beginning January 1, 2022.

“No one should have to choose between caring for their family when they need it most, and paying their bills,” Governor Lamont said. “This program was put together thoughtfully to ensure that working families in our state don’t have to make that tough choice. Now more than ever, it’s important that we make these tools available. If we’ve learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s the importance of planning ahead.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the inequities and disparities that exist in every aspect of our society – from childcare and healthcare to education and employment,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “We needed paid family and medical leave long before this public health emergency, but this pandemic underscored the critical need for this program as too many of our workers had to take time off to care for a loved one, a family member or themselves. That’s why I am so excited that Connecticut continues to lead the way in creating a working environment where everyone can succeed. Not only did the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority meet their goal of registering 104,000 businesses, they surpassed it. This monumental milestone could not have been achieved without the tireless work of our Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, business owners, employees, and advocates.”

“We are very pleased with the first quarter results,” Connecticut Paid Leave Authority CEO Andrea Barton Reeves said. “The paid leave program has been fully developed during the pandemic, when many of Connecticut’s businesses were struggling just to survive. Business cooperation with this new process has been extraordinary and workers across Connecticut who will be eligible for paid leave next year will be the beneficiaries.”

The authority had set a goal of registering 104,000 businesses. Actuarial projections for the paid leave program set first quarter contributions at $67 million. Businesses are required to submit withholding quarterly.

Barton Reeves said the first quarter results are particularly gratifying given the timeline of development. The paid leave program was signed into law by Governor Lamont in 2019. Barton Reeves was named CEO in March 2020, and the authority began outreach to businesses for registration in November 2020.

Barton Reeves said the authority will now focus on identifying and reaching out to the small businesses that do not meet the Department of Labor definition of businesses because they have fewer than ten employees. Those businesses are also required to withhold on behalf of employees. While many have already registered, Barton Reeves said the authority will work to ensure they have communicated with as many as possible.

The program is 100% employee funded through payroll deductions of half a percent from employee paychecks. Withholding began on January 1.

Employees who are eligible for up to 12 weeks of leave in a 12-month period must have earned $2,325 in the highest earning quarter of the past five quarters, must be currently employed or previously employed, and working in the state during the 12 weeks immediately preceding the leave request.

Qualifying reasons include birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care; caring for your health or that of a loved one or family member; serving as an organ or bone marrow donor; caring for a family member injured in military active duty; or being impacted by family violence.

This press release was made possible by:

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