Why We Built SNARE WEB

The Crisis of Rental Scams

Apartment rental scams have reached epidemic proportions across the United States, causing financial devastation, emotional trauma, and housing insecurity for countless victims. These sophisticated scams target vulnerable populations—students, first-time renters, low-income families, and individuals relocating under time pressure—who are often unfamiliar with rental processes or desperate to secure housing in competitive markets.

Scammers manipulate this urgency by creating fake listings with below-market prices, stealing photos from legitimate properties, and fabricating entire rental histories. They use high-pressure tactics to extract security deposits, application fees, and even first month's rent—only for victims to discover that the property doesn't exist, isn't actually available, or was never owned by the "landlord" they've been communicating with.

By the time the fraud is discovered, the scammer has disappeared with the victim's money, leaving them not only financially damaged but potentially homeless. The psychological toll is equally severe, with victims reporting increased anxiety, depression, and a lasting distrust of housing providers that can impact their ability to secure legitimate housing in the future.

Beyond Financial Loss

The impact of rental scams extends far beyond immediate financial losses. Victims often face emergency housing crises when they discover their "new apartment" doesn't exist. This can lead to temporary homelessness, forced stays in expensive hotels, or rushed decisions to accept substandard housing alternatives. For families with children, this instability can disrupt education and development. For working adults, it can threaten employment if they cannot commute to their workplace.

Communities suffer as well. High rates of rental fraud damage neighborhood trust and cohesion. Legitimate property owners and managers face increased skepticism from potential renters. Local economies experience ripple effects as victims' financial losses impact their spending power and economic mobility. Housing markets become less efficient as legitimate listings receive fewer inquiries due to renter wariness.

Law enforcement resources are strained by the volume of rental fraud cases, which are often complex and time-consuming to investigate, especially when scammers operate across jurisdictional boundaries or from overseas. Many victims never recover their lost funds, creating lasting financial hardship that can take years to overcome.

Our Mission

SNARE WEB was developed in response to this growing crisis. We believe that technology that enables scammers should be countered with technology that protects consumers. Our AI-powered platform gives renters the tools to identify potential fraud before they become victims—analyzing listings for the subtle patterns and red flags that might escape human detection.

By combining machine learning algorithms like Isolation Forest and DBSCAN with our comprehensive database of known scam patterns, we're creating a shield for vulnerable renters. Our goal is to dramatically reduce successful rental scams, protect consumers' financial security, and restore trust to the rental marketplace.

We believe everyone deserves safe access to housing without fear of fraud or deception. SNARE WEB represents our commitment to that vision—a future where technology empowers rather than endangers renters in their search for a place to call home.