What is a Rental & Housing Scams?
How It Works — Step by Step
- Fake listing appears on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or even Zillow with photos copied from legitimate listing
- Price is significantly below market to attract many inquiries quickly
- Landlord is unavailable to show in person (traveling, out of country, missionary work)
- Offers to mail keys after deposit is paid
- Deposit collected via wire transfer, Zelle, or crypto before victim ever sees the property
- Keys never arrive, victim discovers property is already rented or doesn't exist
Top Countries (Victims)
Top Platforms Used
⚠️ Warning Signs
- Price significantly below market rate for the area
- Landlord can't meet in person or show you the property
- Being asked to pay deposit before viewing the property
- Payment requested via wire transfer, Zelle, Venmo, or crypto
- Listing photos appear on Google Image Search for other addresses
- Only communicates via email or text, avoids phone calls
✅ How to Protect Yourself
- Never pay a deposit without viewing the property in person
- Reverse image search all listing photos
- Verify the landlord actually owns the property (check county records)
- Use a credit card or secure escrow service for deposits — never wire transfers
- Meet in person at the property — not a coffee shop
- Verify listing on the property management company's official website
Real Cases from Our Database
[US] Is my future sublease a scam? I recently got an internship in another state (so I can't go look at the listing, which is a big yikes I know), so I'm really paranoid about scams. Particularly, the...
SCAM ALERT – Fake hyatt marriot Hilton “Friends & Family” Discount Scammer Resume: • Name: Dhonzkie Naz (aka Madonna Naz) • WhatsApp: donzkie2017 • Gcash: 09948405093 Modus Operandi: Preten...
[US] Need some advice on a place im considering moving too. And it seems sketchy So lately these pat few months I've been looking for a new apartment to move into, I found one for $1150 deposit and $1...
Is this a known scam? "Andrew P***r" (Philippines) wants to use my US profile for Fiverr clients (50/50 or 20%) Hi everyone, I received this message from someone using the name "Andrew P\*\*\*r" who c...
Warning: Facebook Marketplace Car Rental Scam in Bellevue, WA Hey everyone, wanted to share my experience to warn others in the area and hopefully help someone avoid the same mistake. I found a car re...
(US)Possible Airbnb Scam??? Any experienced Airbnbers please help a girl out!! I messaged a host on Airbnb about a room in LA. He told me about another guest house he had in a similar area and that ...
Possible apartment scam? My friends and I have been looking for apartments and we found a place that looked suspiciously cheap on Rent.com ($1500 a month for 2bds in DTLA). We aren’t moving for anothe...
[US] What Kind Of Rental Scam Is This? I came across this listing for a house on Craigslist that seemed a little too good to be true but just believable enough that I thought it was at least worth an ...
Rental Scam, What Do I Do? My boyfriend and I fell for a rental scam. He found someone on Facebook, who sent us links and asked for screenshots when we completed them. There were 5 links in total, and...
(US) Rental scam application fees The background: Disabled sister-in law is looking for a rental. I get home from work and husband asks me to fill out this "pre screen for her." I was told it would g...
Potential landlord scam? When a potential landlord sends you a link to get a credit score and I have to pay to get that score, is that a scam? I had a potential landlord ask me to buy a transunion cre...
Potential Rental Scam? I found a listing on Craigslist that seems legitimate, I texted the owner and they've asked me to submit a credit check before touring. The email link looks a little suspicious....
📋 Where to Report Rental & Housing Scams
- FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov)
- Listing platform (Craigslist, Zillow) fraud reporting
- Local police
- State Attorney General consumer protection