Rental Scam Alert: How Criminals Are Stealing Real Listings and Thousands of Dollars from Renters
- Posted by Morgan Detvay
- On July 31, 2026
The rental market has become increasingly competitive, and unfortunately, scammers know it. One of the fastest growing scams we are seeing involves criminals stealing legitimate rental listings, advertising them on social media at a lower price, and collecting application fees and deposits for homes they don’t own.
At Rental Management One, we recently experienced this firsthand.
A scammer copied one of our rental listings, used our photos, advertised the property on TikTok, and began communicating with prospective tenants by text message. Thankfully, one of those prospective tenants became suspicious before sending any money and contacted us directly.
The screenshots below are from the actual scam.
How the Scam Works
The scam begins by copying photos from a legitimate rental listing. The fraudster then creates a new listing on Facebook Marketplace, TikTok, Craigslist, or another website using the same address and photos, but advertises the home for hundreds of dollars less than the actual rental price.
When someone expresses interest, the scammer often has an explanation ready.
In our case, they claimed they had terminated their agreement with the real estate company because the company was charging too much and wasn’t responding to them. They told the prospective tenant that they were renting the home themselves at a much lower price because they “cared more about finding the right tenant than making money.”
To someone unfamiliar with the rental process, that story sounds believable.
The scammer then encouraged the applicant to skip touring the home, sent a generic online application through JotForm, and attempted to move the process forward without ever proving they had the legal right to lease the property.
Had the prospective tenant continued, the next step likely would have been collecting the application fee, security deposit, and first month’s rent. On move in day, they would have discovered the home was never available to rent through that individual.
Why These Scams Work
These criminals are becoming more sophisticated.
They know renters are looking for a good deal. They know homes can appear on multiple websites. They know many people communicate primarily through text messages.
Instead of denying that another listing exists, they explain it away.
“If you see the home listed somewhere else, that’s because the real estate company was charging too much.”
That single statement removes one of the biggest warning signs and gives the victim a reason to trust them.
Tips for Property Owners and Real Estate Agents
If you own rental property or advertise rentals, there are several steps you can take to reduce the risk of your listings being used in a scam.
Watermark your photos
While MLS photos cannot be watermarked, photos shared on Zillow, Facebook, Instagram, and other marketing platforms can.
Consider including both your company name and the monthly rental amount in the watermark. This makes it much more difficult for someone to reuse your photos while advertising a different rental price.
Place signs at the property
A yard sign or window sign can help prospective tenants verify they have found the legitimate listing.
Include:
- Your company name
- Your website
- Your office phone number
- Where applications should be submitted
- A statement that you never request cash or deposits before the application process is complete
Search for your own listings
Every few weeks, search your property address on Google, Facebook Marketplace, TikTok, Craigslist, and other rental websites.
If you find a fraudulent listing, report it immediately. The faster it is removed, the fewer people become victims.
Educate your owners and tenants
Many property owners don’t realize this type of fraud exists until it happens to them. Current tenants should also know to report anyone claiming to rent out the home they currently occupy.
Tips for Prospective Tenants
Never pay before verifying the listing
Do not send application fees, security deposits, or rent until you have confirmed you are dealing with the legitimate property owner or management company.
Never pay cash or use untraceable payment methods
Be extremely cautious if someone asks you to pay using cash, Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or another method that offers little or no buyer protection.
Verify ownership
Many counties provide free online property tax records. Confirm who owns the property and verify that the person advertising the home is authorized to lease it.
Compare listings
Search the property address online.
If you find multiple listings with different rental prices or different contact information, stop and investigate before proceeding.
Call the property management company or brokerage listed on the higher priced advertisement to verify which listing is legitimate.
Research the company
Before providing personal information, verify the company’s website, phone number, online reviews, and business information.
Don’t rely solely on information provided through a social media profile.
Tour the property
Whenever possible, view the home before applying.
Look for signs in the yard or windows identifying the property manager or brokerage. Verify that the contact information matches what you found online.
Red Flags That Should Make You Stop
If you encounter any of these warning signs, take a step back before moving forward.
- The rent is much lower than similar homes in the area.
- The person refuses to show the property.
- They ask for money before you’ve seen the home.
- They pressure you to act immediately because “other applicants are waiting.”
- The application comes through a generic online form instead of the property management company’s website.
- They only communicate through text messages or social media.
- The contact information doesn’t match the company advertising the property.
- They discourage you from contacting the real estate company or management company.
If Something Doesn’t Feel Right, Trust Your Instincts
Rental scams continue to evolve, and the people behind them are getting better at making fraudulent listings look legitimate.
If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
A few minutes spent verifying a listing could save you thousands of dollars and prevent your identity from being compromised.
If you come across a suspicious listing using one of Rental Management One’s properties or believe you’ve found a fraudulent advertisement, please contact us immediately. We would much rather answer a few questions than see someone lose their hard earned money to a scam.
