Is the Rental Deposit Scam real or a scam?

This is a confirmed scam. Do not click any links, do not provide personal information, and do not send money. This is a other scam.

What should I do if I received the Rental Deposit Scam?

Do not respond or click any links. Block the sender, report the message as spam, and delete it. If it came via text message, forward it to 7726 (SPAM).

What if I already fell for the Rental Deposit Scam?

Change your passwords immediately, contact your bank if you shared financial information, place a fraud alert on your credit, and file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How do I report the Rental Deposit Scam?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, and your local law enforcement. If it impersonated a specific company, report it to that company as well.

Rental Deposit Scam: Is It a Scam?

High Prevalence Type: Other

Yes, this is a scam. Do not click any links or provide personal information.

Rental deposit scams involve fake apartment or house listings posted on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Zillow, and other sites. Scammers collect deposits and first month's rent for properties they do not own or that do not exist.

How This Scam Works

Scammers copy photos and descriptions from legitimate rental listings and repost them at an attractively low price. When you inquire, they claim to be the owner who is out of town and cannot show the property in person. They create urgency by saying many people are interested. They ask for a deposit and first month's rent via wire transfer, Zelle, or cash app to 'hold' the unit. Some scammers provide a fake lease to appear legitimate. After payment, they disappear. In some cases, scammers list real properties that are not actually for rent, and victims show up to find someone already living there.

Red Flags to Watch For

Rent is significantly below market rate for the area
Landlord cannot meet in person or show the property
Pressure to send deposit immediately before seeing the unit
Requests for payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or crypto
Listing photos look too professional or appear on other listings
Landlord asks for sensitive info like SSN before meeting

Example Scam Messages

Email: 'Thank you for your interest in the apartment. I'm currently out of the country for work but I can have my agent mail you the keys once you send the first month's rent ($900) and security deposit ($900) via Zelle. I'll email you a lease agreement right away.' --- Message: 'This unit won't last! I have 5 other people interested. If you can send the $500 deposit today, I'll take the listing down and reserve it for you. I can show it to you next week after you move in.' --- Listing: '2BR/2BA Downtown Apartment - $800/mo (market rate is $1,600) - Available Immediately - Contact owner directly'

What to Do If You Received This

Never pay a deposit without seeing the property in person
Verify the listing on multiple sites and look for the property on Google Maps
Search the listing photos in Google Images to check for reuse
Meet the landlord in person and verify they own or manage the property
Be suspicious of prices significantly below market rate

What to Do If You Fell For It

Contact your bank to attempt to reverse the payment
File a police report with all documentation
Report the listing to the platform where you found it
If you signed a fake lease, report to your state attorney general
Check if the property owner is listed in county records

How to Report This Scam

Report the listing on the platform (Craigslist, Zillow, etc.)
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
File a complaint with FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
File a local police report
Report to your state attorney general

Last updated: February 10, 2026