Rental Fraud: How to Spot Red Flags | Coulee Bank

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Rental Fraud: How to Spot Red Flags

Rental scams are more prevalent than ever. Scam artists create ads on social media platforms and classified and rental websites.


Rental Red Flags


There are several red flags to look for when researching rental property:


  • The listing features professional, high-quality photos
  • The property is in an affluent community
  • It’s available immediately
  • The rent is unusually low
  • The landlord pressures you to send money immediately
  • The landlord cannot meet with you, nor can you see the property
  • The payment request is with gift cards, Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, or even wire transfers


Sarah Laxton, VP, Deposit Operations Manager, says, “Go in with skepticism. If a property management company isn’t listing the space, do your due diligence before you proceed with sending money.”


Research the person who listed the property. Did the person recently join the platform, or have they posted listings previously? Is their profile photo generic? Laxton says you can also check websites like Zillow to see if the property has been rented before. She recommends taking a deep dive into the property’s details before making any decisions.


Be Wary of Sending Money


Laxton says, “If you send money through a third-party app, they have fulfilled their duty. They are not responsible for who you send the money to.” This is why it is important to research the property listing before sending any money, paying a fee for a credit check, or downloading any links for rental applications. A site may look legitimate but sign you up for a credit monitoring service rather than process a rental application.


Follow these steps if you send money or share personal information:


  1. Fill out a complaint form with the details of the scam on IC3.gov.
  2. Put a freeze on your credit report.
  3. Contact your bank if you have already sent money


Laxton says to be wary of Airbnb or Vrbo listings. Vacation rentals can feature fake listings, have undisclosed hidden cameras, or a bait-and-switch that swaps the rental you originally booked for something cheaper and dirtier or in a poor location.


Watch out for TikTok listings on your For You Page. Rental Scams on TikTok feature property photos, rental price, and a phone number to contact—often with an out-of-area code or instructions to connect through WhatsApp. These posts appear on your For You page and seem to target the area where I live.

“If something doesn’t feel right, take a step back and double-check the details before moving forward.”


When searching for rental property, it pays to do your research and be on the lookout for red flags associated with scams.