Scam-Safe Renting, A Verification Playbook

Rental scams do not just take money, they also take time and peace of mind. This guide walks you through the patterns to watch for and the simple workflow you can use to confirm a listing before sending documents or payments.

What rental scams look like

Copy-and-paste listings: Real listings are copied, the price is lowered, and contact details are swapped.

Application-fee grifts: Many people are charged fees but no real screening is done.

Sight-unseen pressure: You are told to pay now or lose the unit, often with requests for cash, gift cards, or crypto.

Bait and switch: You see one unit but the details change after payment.

Spoofed identities: Scammers pose as owners using disposable emails or mismatched domains.

Your 8-step verification workflow

1

Confirm the company by calling the office, matching the address, and verifying the website.

2

Cross-check listings to ensure the price, fees, and dates match across marketplaces.

3

Verify the address and photos by checking online maps to confirm buildings match images.

4

Check emails and applications to confirm they link to a secure portal with the company’s domain.

5

Tour the exact unit or request a unit-specific addendum if shown a model.

6

Request a written fee sheet covering applications, deposits, pets, utilities, and insurance.

7

Read the holding deposit terms and confirm the refund rules and timelines.

8

Save your paper trail by keeping PDFs of listings, receipts, and confirmations.

Payment safety rules

• Pay only through the official portal or by cashier’s check payable to the company.
• Never pay in cash, gift cards, crypto, or personal accounts.
• Confirm the payee matches the company’s legal name.
• Get receipts that clearly list the unit, date, and purpose of payment.

Reading a lease for scam signals

• Names and addresses match the company website and your receipts.
• Rent, deposits, and fees match the written fee sheet.
• The move-in date and prorate are clearly stated.
• Addenda for parking, pets, utilities, and insurance are attached, not promised later.
• If a different landlord name appears, stop and confirm with the office.

Digital privacy, protect your documents

• Export bank statements as PDFs, not screenshots.
• Redact full account numbers, leaving only the last four digits visible.
• Watermark sensitive files with your name and the property address.
• Never email Social Security numbers, use the secure portal instead.
• Use private Wi-Fi when submitting applications.

Red flags vs green lights

Red flags

• Prices far below market with urgency to pay.
• Cash, crypto, or personal accounts required.
• Refusal to allow in-person tours.
• Details differ across websites.
• Typos in the company name or disposable emails used.

Green lights

• The listing on the company site matches marketplaces.
• The portal is secure and shares the same domain as the website.
• A written fee sheet and clear holding deposit rules are provided.
• You tour the exact unit or receive an addendum that locks in the details.
• Receipts list the unit, date, and purpose of payment.

Stay scam-safe, every step of the way

Rental fraud can happen to anyone, but it does not have to happen to you. Use this playbook before signing, sending, or paying. Share it widely, and make scam-safe renting standard for everyone you know.