How to Avoid Rental Scams

When you're on the lookout for a great apartment deal, it's easy to get excited about finding the perfect place. But unfortunately, if a rental seems too good to be true, it usually is. Scammers often succeed in stealing money through a variety of tactics, many of which seem very convincing at first. However, once you know what to look for, scams become much easier to spot. Review the red flags and tips below to help ensure a safe housing search.

đźš© Red Flags to Watch Out For

  • Suspiciously Low Rent: If the price seems unusually low for the area, it’s often a sign of a scam.
  • Urgency to Sign or Pay: Scammers may pressure you to act fast, creating a false sense of urgency to sign a lease or make a payment.
  • Inconsistent Listing Details: Be wary of errors or contradictions in the listing, such as mismatched photos, descriptions, or contact information.
  • Requests for Wire Transfers: Especially if the transfer is international, this is a serious red flag. Legitimate landlords typically don’t ask for wire transfers.
  • Demand for Payment Before Viewing: Never pay any money before you’ve had the chance to see the property in person or via a verified video tour.
  • Unable/Unwilling to Meet: If the landlord refuses to meet you in person or show the property, proceed with caution. Scammers often use dramatic stories or claim they are abroad as an excuse for being unavailable.
  • Claiming Affiliation: Scammers might falsely claim to be affiliated with your university or the off-campus housing website.
  • No Background or Credit Check: A legitimate landlord will usually require a background or credit check before approving a tenant.

âś…Tips to Stay Safe

  • Don’t Pay Before Signing: A landlord should never expect payment without a signed lease agreement.
  • Tour the Property: If you can’t visit in-person, have a friend tour the property for you, or request a video tour.
  • Verify the Address: Verify that the property actually exists and that the photos match up. You can also use Google Images to check if the listing's photos are associated with any other rental listings (from a different property), in which case they may be stolen.
  • Research the Landlord: A quick online search can show if the property is actually for rent and if the landlord's name has been associated with any scams in the past.

If You Spot a Rental Scam

If you think you've encountered a scam on this website, please report it immediately by selecting "Report an Issue" in the bottom-left of the listing page and reach out to customer support with any information.

If you find a rental scam anywhere online, here's what you should do:

  1. Stop communication: Immediately stop engaging with the suspected scammer.
  2. Report the listing: Report the listing to the platform or website administrators as quickly as possible, including any details you have from the listing and what led you to believe it's a scam.
  3. Report to the authorities:
    • Federal Trade Commission (FTC): In the U.S., you can report scams at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
    • Local law enforcement: Notify your local police department about the scam.
    • IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center): For online scams, you can also report to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov.
  4. Document everything: Save copies of the emails, texts, or any other communications related to the scam in case you need them for further action.

➡️ To learn more, review these real-life examples of communications with scammers.

Additional Resources: