Rental & Real Estate Scams
Last updated September 18, 2026
The short answer
You found a great rental at a great price. But the landlord wants a deposit before you can see the place, they're "out of town" and can't show it, or they want you to wire money or pay with gift cards. Scammers post fake rental listings using photos of real properties they don't own.
How it works
- 1
They list a property they don't own
They copy photos and descriptions from real listings (Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.) and post them on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or other platforms at a price that seems like a deal.
- 2
They create urgency
"There are 5 other people interested." "I need a deposit to hold it for you." "First person to pay gets it." They don't want you to slow down and verify.
- 3
They can't show the property
They're "out of the country," "traveling for work," or "renovating." They offer to mail you the keys after you pay. Or they might do a "virtual tour" using photos they stole.
- 4
You send money and get nothing
After you wire the deposit or first month's rent, they stop responding. When you go to the property, someone else lives there, or the real owner has no idea who you are.
Warning signs
- The rent is significantly below market rate for the area
- The landlord can't meet you in person or show the property
- They want a deposit or first month's rent before you've toured the unit
- They're in a rush and say other applicants are ready to pay
- They want payment via wire transfer, cash app, or gift cards
- The listing was just posted and has professional photos that look copied
- They send a lease before you've visited the property
What it looks like
Craigslist listing for a "too good" apartment
A two-bedroom apartment in a popular neighborhood listed at 40% below market rate. The "landlord" says he's working abroad and can mail the keys after receiving a $1,500 deposit via Zelle. The apartment belongs to someone else who has no idea their listing was copied.
"Send deposit to hold your spot"
You apply for a rental through a legitimate-looking website. They approve you instantly and ask for a $2,000 deposit via wire transfer to "hold the unit." After you pay, the website goes offline.
Fake landlord using a vacant property
A scammer finds a vacant home for sale, changes the lock, and lists it for rent. They show the property in person, collect deposits from multiple applicants, then disappear. Each victim thinks they've secured the same rental.
What to do
- Never pay for a rental without visiting the property in person.
- Reverse image search the listing photos to see if they appear elsewhere.
- Look up the property address on county records to find the real owner.
- If you wired money, contact your bank immediately.
- Report the fake listing to the platform where it appeared.
- Report it to the FTC, FBI IC3, and local police.
Who gets targeted
Rental scams target people looking for housing, especially in tight markets where good rentals go fast. College students, people relocating to a new city, and anyone on a budget are common targets.
In a competitive rental market, the pressure to act fast is real. Scammers exploit that pressure.
By the numbers
- $275 million lost to real estate fraud in 2025
- FBI IC3, 2026
- 43% of renters have seen a listing they believed was fraudulent
- Apartment List, 2018
- People 60 and over lost $124 million of that $275 million
- FBI IC3, 2026
Companies used in rental & real estate scams
These are the brands scammers hide behind in this scam. Each guide covers what that company will never ask you for, and how to report it to them directly.