Rental scams hit home with $65 million in reported losses
Scammers post fake rental listings online, copy real properties, and pressure renters to send money and personal information before viewing the home in person. Since 2020, nearly 65,000 people have reported rental scams totaling $65 million in losses.
Scammers post fake rental ads on Facebook, Craigslist, or other sites by copying real listings and changing the contact information, or by creating fake listings from scratch with attractive photos and below-market prices. They then pressure you to pay upfront fees (application fee, security deposit, or first month's rent) before you see the property, ask you to share personal information like your Social Security number and driver's license photo to complete an application, or direct you to sites that enroll you in paid credit-check memberships. Some scammers arrange self-guided tours using copied lockbox codes to seem legitimate, but they never meet you in person and vanish after taking your money.
- Same property listed at different prices or with different contact information online
- Rent is significantly cheaper than other similar homes in the area
- Pressure to pay application fee, deposit, or rent upfront before seeing the home
- Landlord asks for your Social Security number, credit score, or driver's license photo early
- Landlord tells you to get your own credit report; real landlords pull it themselves
- Scammer will not meet you in person or only offers self-guided tours
Do not send money, personal information, or credit card details until you have met the landlord in person and seen the property. Search the rental address online to see if it appears with different prices or on a sales listing. Call the real landlord directly using contact information from the property owner's official website or tax records. If you already paid a scammer, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your local police.