SCAM LIBRARY · BUYING & SELLING

The fake rental listing

Someone posts an attractive rental listing online, collects a deposit or payment, then disappears—the property was never theirs to rent.

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-06

How it works

You find a great rental deal on a website or social media, contact the seller, and they seem helpful and trustworthy. They ask you to send a deposit or first month's rent quickly to 'hold' the property, often using pressure like 'other interested renters' or a tight deadline. Once you pay, communication stops.

Red flags

• The price seems unusually low for the area or property quality.
• The landlord pushes you to pay without visiting the property in person or verifying their identity.
• They request payment through untraceable methods (wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency) rather than standard lease agreements.
• They avoid direct phone calls or video chat, preferring only text or email communication.

What to do

• Always visit any rental property in person and meet the actual owner or property manager before paying anything.
• Verify the property owner's identity independently—look up the property records or contact a local real estate agent.
• Report the scam at reportfraud.ftc.gov so authorities can warn others and track patterns.