Rental Scams: Red Flags & Real Life Examples

The convenience of shopping online brings with it a heightened risk of scams and fraud. You should always be mindful and vigilant before providing anyone your personal information or sending payment of any kind.

We work hard to provide our users with a convenient and reliable source of rental listings and roommate profiles, but fraudsters are also working to scam users. When we work together, we can take steps to make our online marketplaces the safest they can be. Be aware we do not participate in any rental transactions and cannot refund your money if you are scammed.

While we work continuously to ensure that you have a positive experience using our site, we cannot guarantee that our sites are 100% free from false or fraudulent listings.

🚩 Red Flags to Watch Out For

• Suspiciously low rent. Scammers know that innocent renters will be less cautious if they are motivated to close quickly on a deal so they don’t lose out on something too good to be true.
• 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.
• Request 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.
• Request to wire money. Legitimate landlords do not ask renters to wire money to any account, especially an account located abroad. Nor do they ask for money by Western Union, MoneyGram or other money transfer service.
• No background or credit check: A legitimate landlord will usually require a background or credit check before approving a tenant.
• Request to use another listing service or escrow account to transfer money. Scammers may impersonate legitimate listings services, like AirBnB or HomeAway, or request that money is sent to an escrow account to make renters believe they are dealing with a legitimate entity.
• Claim of affiliation with UT Dallas, Off Campus Partners, or Apartments.com. Scammers may impersonate our site to make it seem like we participate in the lease transaction or transfer of funds. We do not participate in any transactions between landlords and renters, and we will never ask you for money to use our site or any of our services.
• Dramatic landlord story. The landlord has received a job assignment abroad and must rent the unit ASAP. You are invited to drive by the building, but no one can show it to you because everyone is already living abroad. And you need to commit in the next 24 hours because dozens of people are waiting to sign the lease. A legitimate landlord will meet you in person and allow you to tour the property before asking for a deposit to secure the rental.
• Can’t or won’t meet in person. For whatever reason, the landlord/agent refuses to meet you in person at the property. They may even send you an access code to unlock an electronic lockbox to gain entry by yourself to the house, condo or apartment you are looking to rent.

✅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.

What We Do

• While no screening system is perfect, we do scan our listings for high risk or fraudulent listings and pursue legal action where proper;
• Immediately review and remove listings that are reported as suspicious, when appropriate;
• Fully and transparently support law enforcement investigations of listings fraud and Independently investigate suspicious and fraudulent listings and pursue legal action where proper.

What to Do If You Spot a Rental Scam

Stop communication

Immediately stop engaging with the suspected scammer.

Report it

Report potential scams immediately and with as much detail as possible (including copies of the communications with the scammer and money transfer details) to:

1. Website administrators as quickly as possible, including any details from the listing and why you believe it may be a scam. You can report a suspicious listing by selecting "Report an Issue" at the bottom-left of the listing page, calling us at 877-895-1234, or sending us an email.
2. Local authorities:
   1. Richardson, TX Police Department: Call 972-744-4100 or submit an Online Fraud Report
   2. Texas Attorney General: Submit a Consumer Complaint
3. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
4. The Federal Trade Commission

Document everything

Save copies of the emails, texts, or any other communications related to the scam in case you need them for further action.

Examples of Real-life Rental Scams

Review the examples below. In one case, an owner allegedly located in the UK provides an overly detailed story explaining why the unit is available and why she does not reside in the U.S.:

Landlord who cannot deal face to face because he lives in the UK says Airbnb agent will hold a refundable deposit and give renter an opportunity to inspect the apartment:

Additional Resources:

• Don’t Get Catfished: How to Avoid Rental Scams
• What to Know About Online Leasing
• Here's How to Find Your Perfect Apartment Online