Fake Rental Listing Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers create fake apartment listings with stolen photos, collect deposits for properties they don't own. FBI IC3: 9,359 complaints, $174M losses in 2024.
websitefacebookmarketplace
→2 confirmed active threats
🏠Rental Scams
Rental scams caused $174M across 9,359 complaints in 2024. Scammers steal photos of real properties and collect deposits for places they don't own. Never pay without seeing the property and verifying ownership through county records.
$174Min reported losses, 2024(IC3)9 359 complaints
2
Patterns Documented
2
Confirmed Threats
0
High Risk
$16.6B
Reported Losses, 2024 (IC3)
Data sourced from FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report. Data reflects complaints submitted to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and may not represent all incidents. ZeroScam is an educational tool and is not affiliated with the FBI.
Filter by Category
Clear filter ×All Patterns (85)₿ Cryptocurrency Scams(4)$6.6B💳 Payment & BEC Scams(9)$2.8B💻 Tech Support Scams(5)$1.5B🔓 Personal Data Breach(2)$1.5B🛒 Online Purchase Scams(5)💔 Romance Scams(3)🏛️ Government Impersonation(6)🏢 Corporate Data Breach(3)💼 Job & Employment Scams(6)🏧 Crypto ATM & Kiosk Scams(3)🥇 Gold Courier Scams(2)🪪 Identity Theft(3)🏠 Rental Scams(2)🔒 Extortion & Blackmail(1)🎰 Prize & Lottery Scams(1)🎣 Phishing & Smishing(3)📦 Delivery & Shipping Scams(4)🎭 Impersonation Scams(4)🤖 AI-Powered Scams(5)📱 Social Media Scams(2)📞 Telemarketing Scams(1)🏥 Healthcare Scams(1)🏦 Financial Service Scams(2)🔧 Service Provider Scams(2)🎗️ Charity Scams(1)🗳️ Election & Civic Scams(2)🧬 Synthetic Identity Fraud(2)🔄 Recovery Scams(1)
Threat Levels
CONFIRMED THREAT— Actively reported to FBI IC3
HIGH RISK— Significant victim reports
EMERGING— Recently identified pattern
Common Questions About Rental Scams
How do I know if a rental listing is fake?▼
Red flags: price way below market, landlord overseas/can't show property, payment before viewing, wire/gift cards required.
Can I trust Craigslist rentals?▼
High risk. Scammers copy real listings at lower prices. Never pay without seeing property in person and meeting landlord.
What is real estate wire fraud?▼
Hackers intercept closing emails and send fake wire instructions. Buyers wire down payments to criminals. Always verify by phone.
How do I verify a landlord?▼
Search county property records. Meet in person. Never pay before viewing. Verify ID matches records.
📖 How to Use This Database
- ✓Browse patterns to learn scammer tactics before you encounter them
- ✓Share specific pattern pages with family members who may be targeted
- ✓Use our scanner to check suspicious messages against all 85 patterns
- ✓Report scams to FBI IC3 and FTC using links on each pattern page
⚖️ Important Information
This database is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Pattern data is derived from publicly available FBI IC3 reports and ongoing research.
ZeroScam does not guarantee detection of all scams. Always exercise caution and verify independently before sending money or personal information.
Not legal or financial advice. If you have been victimized, contact local law enforcement and file reports with FBI IC3 and FTC.
Free • Private • No signup
Got a suspicious message?
Paste it and we'll check it against all 85 documented patterns. See exactly how scammers tried to manipulate you.
🔒 We analyze your message — then it's gone.
73% of Americans report being targeted(Pew Research, 2025 survey)
|$470M reported in text-related fraud(FTC, 2024)
|$16.6B in total reported losses(FBI IC3, 2024)