Quick answer: Report a rental listing scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI at IC3.gov, and the platform where you found the listing (Zillow, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, etc.). File a police report in the jurisdiction where the property is located. If you wired money or sent a money order, contact your bank immediately — wire recalls are possible within 24–72 hours.
Rental scams are among the most costly consumer frauds targeting individuals. Scammers copy real listings, pose as landlords, collect deposits and first month’s rent, then disappear. The FTC reports thousands of rental fraud complaints annually. Quick reporting to multiple agencies gives you the best chance of recovering money and stopping the scammer from victimizing others.
Types of Rental Listing Scams
The most common is the hijacked listing — scammers copy a legitimate real estate listing, lower the price dramatically, and repost it as a rental. They pose as an “owner” who’s traveling abroad and can’t show the unit, then ask for a deposit to be mailed or wired. Phantom rentals are properties that don’t exist or aren’t for rent. Bait-and-switch scams show you one unit, collect your deposit, then claim it’s unavailable and try to move you to a worse unit. Lease-signing scams involve people who don’t own the property fraudulently “renting” it to multiple victims simultaneously.
Where to Report a Rental Scam
📄 Download Free Reporting Checklist
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Get Your Free Checklist →| Situation | Agency | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Rental fraud / fake listing | FTC | ReportFraud.ftc.gov |
| Online fraud / wire transfer loss | FBI IC3 | IC3.gov |
| Remove fraudulent listing | Listing platform (Zillow, Craigslist, etc.) | Use “report listing” button on the platform |
| Criminal complaint | Local police (property’s jurisdiction) | Non-emergency line or online report portal |
| State consumer fraud | State Attorney General | Search “[your state] attorney general consumer complaint” |
| Mail fraud involved | U.S. Postal Inspection Service | uspis.gov/report |
How to Report a Rental Listing Scam Step by Step
- Stop all payments immediately. Do not wire money, send a money order, or pay via gift cards to a “landlord” you haven’t met in person and verified as the property owner. These payment methods are irreversible and preferred by scammers.
- Document the listing and communications. Screenshot the rental ad, all emails and texts with the “landlord,” any lease documents sent, and payment confirmations. Do this before the listing is removed.
- Report the listing to the platform. Use the “report” or “flag” button on Craigslist, Zillow, Facebook Marketplace, or wherever you found it. Platforms can remove the listing quickly and may have fraud teams that share data with law enforcement.
- Contact your bank if you paid. For wire transfers, call your bank the same day — banks can initiate a wire recall within 24–72 hours. For Zelle or Venmo, contact them directly. For money orders, contact the issuer (USPS, Western Union) to attempt a stop-payment.
- Report to the FTC. File at ReportFraud.ftc.gov with the scammer’s name, contact info, listing URL, payment method, and dollar amount lost. FTC data helps build cases against repeat scammers.
- File with the FBI’s IC3. For any online component or wire transfer fraud, file at IC3.gov. IC3 coordinates with financial institutions and can sometimes intercept transferred funds.
- File a police report. Report in the jurisdiction where the property is located — not necessarily where you live. A police report is also often required by your bank to process a fraud claim.
- Alert your state attorney general. State AGs track patterns of fraud and can pursue cases involving scammers targeting residents of their state.
Red Flags of a Rental Scam
Price too low: A well-below-market rental in a desirable area is the most reliable red flag. Scammers use low prices to attract many victims quickly.
“Landlord” is abroad: Any story about being overseas for work, missions, or military service and needing you to wire a deposit to receive the keys is a scam.
No in-person showing: Legitimate landlords show units. Any reason why you can’t see the property before paying — no matter how convincing — should end the conversation.
How to Verify a Rental is Legitimate
Check property records: Look up the property address in your county assessor’s database to verify who actually owns it — then verify the “landlord’s” identity matches.
Reverse image search: Right-click any listing photos and search Google Images — scam listings frequently use stolen photos from other real estate sites.
View in person: Always visit the property and meet the landlord in person before paying any money. A landlord who cannot or will not show the unit is a scammer.
Frequently Asked Questions
For related guides see: How to Report a Landlord, How to Report an Online Scam, How to Report Identity Theft.
Independent resource — not affiliated with any U.S. government agency. Last reviewed: June 2026.
This guide is a supporting article in our pillar resource covering all housing violations, every federal agency, and all 50 state contacts.
How to Report a Landlord or Housing Violation: Complete U.S. Guide →Rules and complaint offices vary by state. Use our state lookup to find the correct reporting agency, phone number, and complaint portal.
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