Fake apartment listing on Facebook or Craigslist demands a deposit before a tour
A scammer copies photos and details from a real real estate listing and reposts it at a far below-market price on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or roommate sites. They claim to be out of state and ask for first month's rent plus deposit by Zelle, Cash App, or wire before showing the unit.
Also known as: Craigslist rental scam, Facebook Marketplace apartment scam, fake landlord scam
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
What to do right now
- 1 Never send money for a rental you have not physically toured (or had a trusted person tour for you)
- 2 Reverse-search the listing photos on Google Images. If the same photos appear on a real estate sales listing, the rental is fake
- 3 Look up the address on the county assessor's website — does the name on the listing match the actual owner?
- 4 Legitimate landlords accept rent via check, ACH, or property-management portals, not Zelle to a personal account
- 5 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.
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Red flags
- ⚠ Rent is well below market for the area — the obvious lure
- ⚠ The 'owner' is out of state or country and cannot show the unit in person
- ⚠ Payment demanded by Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, wire, or gift cards — never escrow
- ⚠ Pressure to send a deposit to 'hold' the unit because of high demand
- ⚠ The photos look professional and are sometimes reverse-searchable to a real for-sale listing
Rental scams are easy to fall for because the photos and details are real — they were taken from a legitimate listing somewhere else. The only thing fake is the person collecting your deposit.
Tips that work in practice: insist on touring before paying anything. Ask for the landlord’s name and look them up against the county assessor’s record for that address. Use payment methods with built-in dispute protection (credit card, check) rather than Zelle or Cash App, which are nearly impossible to reverse.
If you have already paid: call your bank and ask whether a Zelle reversal is possible (rarely successful, but worth trying within hours). Report to the FTC and IC3.
Known variants
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Scammers list non-existent or double-booked vacation rentals on VRBO, Airbnb, or direct-booking sites using stolen or AI-generated photos. Victims arrive at the destination to find the property is occupied by another booking or doesn't exist. Payment demanded by wire, Zelle, or Cash App to a private individual.
Last seen: 7/19/2026
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During summer PCS moves, scammers target military families searching remotely for housing near new bases. Listings appear below BAH rates; the 'landlord' cannot show the unit in person. FTC July 2026 Military Consumer Month alert warns payment demanded by gift card, Zelle, or wire before any tour.
Last seen: 7/14/2026
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Scammers target service members and military families during PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves by posting fake rental listings near bases — using below-market prices to exploit time pressure. They claim to be deployed or out of state and demand a deposit by gift card, wire, or Zelle before the member can view the unit. FTC Jul 13, 2026 alert.
Last seen: 7/15/2026
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Military families on PCS (Permanent Change of Station) orders are targeted with fake rental listings near their new base. Scammers know service members often cannot tour in person before reporting, offer below-market rent, and demand wire or Zelle deposits. The relocation office at the new base can verify legitimate housing and companies to avoid.
Last seen: 7/18/2026
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Scammers post fake rental listings near military bases targeting service members on PCS (Permanent Change of Station) orders. Searching remotely under time pressure, victims are lured by below-market rents from 'landlords' who can't show the unit. Payment demanded via Zelle, wire, or gift cards to 'hold' the property.
Last seen: 7/19/2026
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Scammers target service members on PCS orders with fake below-market listings near military bases. The 'landlord' — often posing as a deployed fellow service member — demands deposit by gift card or wire before arrival. Victims can't tour in person. FTC warned military families during Military Consumer Month July 2026.
Last seen: 7/20/2026