Spot the scam
Alice wants to move into an apartment on August 1st. Bob is offering one month's free rent. Bob agrees to give Alice a lease start date of July 31st, with August's rent free. When Alice goes to give Bob a holding deposit on the apartment, Bob gives Alice this "deal": To "make sure the place is off the market" Bob will give Alice a SUPER deal on the security deposit ($99) but she'll pay July's rent, then August will be free. So it will be "the same" as if Alice moved in July 31st and got a free month's rent, since the money Alice would have been paying for the security deposit just "becomes" July's rent.
It's a good thing I had my morning coffee before I went to put in the holding deposit this morning, that one almost got me.
It's a good thing I had my morning coffee before I went to put in the holding deposit this morning, that one almost got me.