From time to time, HCR becomes aware of email scams targeting Section 8 families. To make them appear more credible, they sometimes include the signature lines of actual case managers increasing the risk of families falling victim. A recent scam attempt involved a fraudulent email advising families that they have been approved to rent a unit and directing them to send a security deposit.
Please be assured that HCR takes this issue very seriously, and we hope you will too.
HCR and our Local Administrators will NEVER request that a family submit payments directly to us, whether for security deposits, rent, or any other charges.
To guide you in determining whether you’ve received a possibly fraudulent message, here’s a quick list of what you need to watch out for and industry best practices to be mindful of:
What to Watch For:
Unexpected requests for login credentials or payment.
Urgent or emotional tones prompting quick action.
Slight misspellings in email addresses or URLs.
Search engine results that do not link to the expected website.
Generic greeting (no name).
No direct contact information or signature details.
Sender address might be subtly altered (e.g., @acc0untspay.com).
Requests for items with financial value without proper protocol.
Best Practices:
Verify unexpected requests by calling or messaging the sender directly.
Hover over links to preview the actual destination before clicking.
Report suspicious emails via your email provider’s reporting button.
When in doubt, don’t interact—forward the message to the Local Administrator or HCR for review and verification.
Take an extra moment to verify before acting can prevent costly attacks.
