With rental availability low and prices rising, many people are struggling to find housing that fits their needs and budget. Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of this by creating fake rental listings on social media and stealing money and personal information from unsuspecting renters. These scams often use photos taken from legitimate home-for-sale and rental listings. A recent review of social media platforms found more than 1,200 fake rental listings in Connecticut alone.

Rental Red Flags

Consumers should be aware of common warning signs that a rental may be a scam:

• Too good to be true. Rental prices way below market value are one of the biggest red flags. If most twobedroom apartments in an area cost $1,800 and a listing appears for $1,000, it’s likely a scam.
• Requests for money or personal information upfront. Scammers often insist on an application fee or deposit before showing the property. A legitimate landlord will not require payment before you see a rental.
• Unusual payment methods. Fraudsters frequently ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other untraceable payment types. These are almost always signs of a scam.
• Missing address. Any real rental listing will include an actual address. If the poster refuses to provide an address, it’s best to walk away.
• High application fees. In Connecticut, landlords may charge up to $50 for an application or tenant screening report. Anything more than that is illegal and signals a scam.

How to Protect Yourself from Rental Scams

There are several ways renters can confirm a listing’s legitimacy:

• Do not send money or share personal information before visiting the property. Always see the rental in person before making payments or sharing personal information. If you cannot visit yourself, ask someone you trust who lives nearby to check it for you.
• Verify the real estate agent’s license. Go to portal.ct.gov/lookup. Click on the link for elicense.ct.gov and search “Lookup a License” to check the agent’s credentials. Click on “Details” and contact the listed broker to verify the property is being offered for rent.
• Run a reverse image search. Scammers often reuse photos from real listings. Screenshot the images in the listing and upload them into a reverse image search tool. If the same pictures appear in a listing for a property for sale, or if there are multiple listings of the same property in different locations, the post is probably fake.
• Check if property is listed for sale. Enter the address into websites such as Realtor.com or Zillow. If the property is for sale, the rental post may not be real. You can also drive by the home to check for a “For Sale” sign. If it’s listed for sale, call the agent on the listing and ask if it’s available for rent.

What to Do if You Suspect a Scam

If you come across a suspicious rental listing on social media, report it. You can also file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

If you have lost money, notify local law enforcement and call the Department of Consumer Protection Complaint Center at (860) 7136300. Contact your bank immediately to stop or reverse payments, if possible. If you have shared sensitive personal information, visit www.identitytheft.gov to report the fraud and take steps to protect your identity.

This article was written by Diana Shaw, MPH, director of outreach and education for the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. To learn more about how the Department of Consumer Protection can help, visit www.ct.gov/dcp.