● HIGH RISK

Rental & Apartment Listing Scam

A listing for a place the "landlord" does not own — often with photos lifted from a real listing — collects application fees, deposits, and first month's rent for a unit you will never get keys to. The push to pay before you tour is the tell. Never wire money for a rental you have not stood inside.

Losses: Tens of millions in reported losses annually (FTC)

Targets: Renters, students, relocating workers, anyone apartment hunting remotely

Updated: 2026-06-11

Also known as: Apartment Scam · Fake Rental Listing · Sublet Scam · Hijacked Listing Scam

How It Works

Scammers exploit hot rental markets and the urgency of finding housing, especially among people relocating who can't view a unit in person. **Common tactics:** 1. **Hijacked listing**: Scammers copy a real for-sale or for-rent listing, lower the price, and repost it as their own. 2. **The absent landlord**: "I'm out of the country / a missionary / on military deployment, so I can't show it — but you can drive by." They mail "keys" after you pay. 3. **Deposit before viewing**: You're pressured to send first month's rent and a security deposit to "hold" the unit before you've seen inside. 4. **Phantom rental**: The property doesn't exist or isn't for rent at all. 5. **Application-fee harvesting**: Fake listings collect $30–$75 "application" or "background check" fees from dozens of hopeful renters. **Why it works:** Low rent plus a tight market plus relocation pressure makes people wire deposits sight-unseen.

How Scammers Make Contact

Rental listing sitesSocial media marketplaceClassified adsEmail

Warning Signs & Red Flags

Landlord can't or won't let you see the inside before paying
Rent is well below comparable units in the area
Requests for deposit or rent via wire, Zelle, Cash App, or gift cards
"Out of the country" landlord who will "mail the keys"
Pressure to pay immediately to "hold" the unit
The same listing photos appear on other sites at a different price or address

Real-World Example

"I was moving across the country for a new job and found a gorgeous apartment $400 under market. The 'owner' said he was a missionary overseas and would FedEx the keys after I sent the deposit and first month — $2,400 by Zelle. I drove by; the place was real, but when I arrived to move in, an actual tenant lived there. The listing photos had been stolen from a real estate site."
— FTC Consumer Alert: Rental Listing Scams

How to Protect Yourself

Never pay a deposit or rent before touring the unit in person
Verify the owner through county property records before paying
Reverse-image-search the listing photos to spot hijacked listings
Be suspicious of below-market rent and "absent" landlords
Use payment methods with a paper trail — never wire or gift cards
Search the address and listing text for duplicate or scam reports

What To Do If You're a Victim

1Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to try to stop the transfer
2Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
3Report fake listings to the hosting platform (Zillow, Craigslist, Facebook)
4File a complaint with HUD if housing discrimination or fraud is involved
5Report to your local police — a report may help with bank disputes
6Keep the listing, messages, and payment records

Report This Scam

FTC Report Fraud FBI IC3 Identity Theft

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rental & Apartment Listing Scam?

What are the warning signs of Rental & Apartment Listing Scam?

Landlord can't or won't let you see the inside before paying. Rent is well below comparable units in the area. Requests for deposit or rent via wire, Zelle, Cash App, or gift cards. "Out of the country" landlord who will "mail the keys". Pressure to pay immediately to "hold" the unit.

How do I protect myself from Rental & Apartment Listing Scam?

Never pay a deposit or rent before touring the unit in person. Verify the owner through county property records before paying. Reverse-image-search the listing photos to spot hijacked listings. Be suspicious of below-market rent and "absent" landlords.

What should I do if I'm a victim of Rental & Apartment Listing Scam?

Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to try to stop the transfer. Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Report fake listings to the hosting platform (Zillow, Craigslist, Facebook). File a complaint with HUD if housing discrimination or fraud is involved.

How serious is this threat?

We rate this high risk. Reported losses: Tens of millions in reported losses annually (FTC). Most exposed: Renters, students, relocating workers, anyone apartment hunting remotely.

Can I get my money back?

Recovery depends on how you paid. Credit card payments may be reversed through chargebacks, while wire transfers and cryptocurrency are rarely recoverable. Report immediately to your bank and file complaints with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov.

How do I report Rental & Apartment Listing Scam?

Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. For internet crimes, file with the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov. For identity theft, visit identitytheft.gov. You should also contact your local police and your bank.

Sources & References

Related Scams

Fake Online Store

A storefront with real-looking products and unreal prices takes your payment and either ships nothing or sends a counterfeit. Many are built fast and abandoned just as fast. Pay by credit card so you can dispute it, and be wary of a brand-new site selling brand-name goods for a fraction.

Marketplace Scam

On Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and the like, the scam runs both ways — fake listings that take a deposit, buyers who "overpay" with bad checks, counterfeit goods, and a push to move off-platform. Keep it in person, in cash or platform-protected payment, and treat any nudge toward Zelle or gift cards as a stop sign.

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