Fake Rental Listing Scam

A rental listing — sometimes copied from a real property that isn't actually for rent — advertises an attractive price and asks for a deposit or first month's rent before the "landlord," who is never available to meet in person, disappears.

A scammer copies photos and details from a real property listing, or invents one entirely, and posts it online at an attractively low price to generate quick interest. When a prospective renter reaches out, the "landlord" always has an excuse for being unavailable to meet in person — out of the country, deployed, or dealing with a family emergency — and pressures the renter to send a security deposit and first month's rent to hold the unit sight unseen, after which the landlord stops responding and the property often turns out not to be for rent at all.

• The listed rent is noticeably below market rate for the area.
• The landlord is always unavailable to meet in person or show the unit live.
• Pressure to send a deposit before viewing the property.
• Listing photos match another property listed for sale or rent elsewhere online.

• Never pay a deposit before viewing a property in person or via a verified live video call.
• Search the listing photos online to check if they've been copied from another listing.
• Verify property ownership through public county property records.
• Be suspicious of a landlord who is always "out of the country" or unavailable to meet.