Avoiding Rental Scams
While sifting through countless listings, you might come across one that seems perfect in every way—a prime location, all the amenities you could wish for, and an unusually low price. Unfortunately, with online listings, if a rental deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
However, spotting rental scams can be straightforward once you know what to look for. The best way to protect yourself during your housing search is to stay informed and vigilant—you can never be too careful.
Watch the video and explore the resources below to learn about common warning signs and effective methods for avoiding scams.
For more insights, check out these real-life examples of rental scams.
🚩 Red Flags to Watch Out For:
- Suspiciously Low Rent: If the price seems unusually low for the area, it’s often a sign of a scam.
- 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.
- Requests for Wire Transfers: Especially if the transfer is international, this is a serious red flag. Legitimate landlords typically don’t ask for wire transfers.
- Demand 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.
- Unable/Unwilling to Meet: If the landlord refuses to meet you in person or show the property, proceed with caution. Scammers often use dramatic stories or claim they are abroad as an excuse for being unavailable.
- Claiming Affiliation: Scammers might falsely claim to be affiliated with your university or the off-campus housing website.
- No Background or Credit Check: A legitimate landlord will usually require a background or credit check before approving a tenant.
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.
If you suspect a listing is a scam, report it immediately by emailing us at offcampus@costar.com or giving us a call at (877) 895-1234.