Fake rental listings often copy genuine property photos, descriptions and video tours before scammers pose as landlords and demand deposits or application fees (Representative image)
Real estate fraud complaints in the US rose sharply in 2025, with the FBI receiving 12,368 complaints and reported losses crossing $275 million, up from 9,359 complaints and about $174 million in losses a year earlier. The category covers various forms of property fraud, including fake rental listings. Fake rental listings have become a growing concern as scammers copy genuine property advertisements, photos and video tours before posing as landlords and asking prospective tenants for deposits or application fees. In one recent case, a Southern California renter found a two-bedroom bungalow advertised at an attractive price. The supposed landlord said she could not view the property because current tenants had not moved out, but sent her a professional video tour instead. The video was genuine, but had been copied from an earlier listing. She eventually sent more than $2,500 through Zelle before the supposed landlord stopped responding, as per the case cited by Fox News.
How fake rental listings work
Scammers often do not create properties from scratch. Instead, they copy listings from legitimate real estate websites, including photographs, descriptions and video tours, then replace the contact details with their own. They may advertise the property at a slightly lower rent to attract renters quickly. The FBI recorded 115 real estate fraud complaints in 2025 that referenced artificial intelligence, involving nearly $2.7 million in reported losses. AI can help scammers produce more convincing messages and documents, although many schemes continue to rely on copied listings and fabricated identities. Scammers also exploit the pressure renters face in competitive markets. A lease deadline, school admission or the prospect of losing an affordable home can make people more willing to pay before properly checking the property or landlord.
Red flags renters should watch
An unusually low rent, pressure to pay quickly or a landlord who refuses an in-person viewing should raise suspicion. A professional video tour does not establish that the person sending it owns or manages the property. Renters should search the property's full address, compare listings and photos, verify the owner through property records and independently contact any named real estate agent or management company. They should also reverse-search listing photographs to check whether they have been copied from an older advertisement. Most importantly, renters should not send a deposit before verifying the property and the person offering it for rent. Payment requests through Zelle, cryptocurrency, gift cards or wire transfers warrant particular caution because recovering authorised payments can be difficult. If money has already been sent, renters should immediately contact their bank or payment service, report the transaction as fraud, preserve screenshots and messages, and report the listing to the platform and relevant authorities.
