How do I know if a rental listing is a scam?
Be suspicious if you're asked to pay before you have seen the place, met someone, or signed a lease. The FTC says that is the most common sign of a scam. Scammers ask for an application fee, a deposit, or first month's rent to "hold" the unit, and then they disappear. People reported almost 65,000 rental scams to the FTC from 2020 to mid-2025, with about $65 million lost. About half of recent reports said the scam started with a Facebook ad.
Search the address online. If the same home shows up with a different price or contact, or it is listed for sale, the listing has probably been copied. Rent far below what similar places nearby cost is another warning sign. So is pressure to decide today. Don't send your Social Security number, a screenshot of your credit score, or photos of your ID until you have agreed to rent. Real landlords run the credit check themselves.
If you are renting from another city, have someone you trust see the unit in person, or ask for a live video tour where they open doors and show the street outside. Be careful with "self-guided tours" that send you a lockbox code. Scammers copy these listings too. Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, or crypto. Report a scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Source: Federal Trade Commission, Rental scams hit home: $65 million in reported losses · Checked October 2026