$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Craigslist fake rental listing scam
Scammers post fake rental listings using photos stolen from legitimate real estate sites, collecting deposits and first month's rent from multiple victims for properties they do not own.
“rental scam”
↑ 274%Key indicators
Usually targetsRenters
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$1.8K
median reported loss
Typical range$360 – $9.0K
Recovery rate~10%
Annual reports43,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers copy photos and descriptions from real Zillow, Realtor, or MLS listings and repost them on Craigslist at below-market prices.
2
They communicate by email, claiming they are abroad and will mail the keys after receiving a deposit.
3
Multiple victims send deposits for the same nonexistent rental, and the scammer disappears with the money.
What to do first
Never send money for a rental you have not physically visited — verify the property exists and the 'landlord' owns it.
Related terms
fake apartment listingCraigslist rental fraudphantom rental scamRental scamsCraigslistRisingRentersYoung adultsFamiliesSmall business ownersReal estate professionals and homebuyersEducators and studentsUnited StatesCanadafake apartment listingCraigslist rental fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Fatima, 27, a renters, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate rental scams situation while using Craigslist. Scammers copy photos and descriptions from real Zillow, Realtor, or MLS listings and repost them on Craigslist at below-market prices.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They communicate by email, claiming they are abroad and will mail the keys after receiving a deposit.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Multiple victims send deposits for the same nonexistent rental, and the scammer disappears with the money.
The outcome
Fatima realized something was wrong when rental price is significantly below market rate for the area. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never send money for a rental you have not physically visited — verify the property exists and the 'landlord' owns it. Fatima's experience shows why rental price is significantly below market rate for the area and landlord claims to be out of town and cannot show the property in person are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Rental price is significantly below market rate for the area
- Landlord claims to be out of town and cannot show the property in person
- Asks for a deposit or first month's rent via wire transfer or gift cards before you see the unit
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Never send money for a rental you have not physically visited — verify the property exists and the 'landlord' owns it.
- ✓Search the listing photos on Google Images to see if they appear on other real estate sites under a different listing.
- ✓Meet the landlord in person and verify ownership through county property records before signing any lease.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Preserve the listing ID, reservation ID, or the exact item URL because platform support will usually ask for it.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Rental scams are among the most reported fraud types to the FTC and FBI IC3, with losses exceeding 350 million USD reported to the IC3 in 2023.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Never send money for a rental you have not physically visited — verify the property exists and the 'landlord' owns it.
- ✓Search the listing photos on Google Images to see if they appear on other real estate sites under a different listing.
- ✓Meet the landlord in person and verify ownership through county property records before signing any lease.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Rental scams are among the most reported fraud types to the FTC and FBI IC3, with losses exceeding 350 million USD reported to the IC3 in 2023.
FBI IC3 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Renters, Young adults, Families, College students
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Craigslist — Rental scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Renters are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Rental scams are among the most reported fraud types to the FTC and FBI IC3, with losses exceeding 350 million USD reported to the IC3 in 2023.
Source notes
- FBI IC3 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about craigslist fake rental listing scam
How does the craigslist fake rental listing scam work?+
Scammers copy photos and descriptions from real Zillow, Realtor, or MLS listings and repost them on Craigslist at below-market prices. They communicate by email, claiming they are abroad and will mail the keys after receiving a deposit. Multiple victims send deposits for the same nonexistent rental, and the scammer disappears with the money.
What are the warning signs of craigslist fake rental listing scam?+
Rental price is significantly below market rate for the area Landlord claims to be out of town and cannot show the property in person Asks for a deposit or first month's rent via wire transfer or gift cards before you see the unit
What should I do if I encounter craigslist fake rental listing scam?+
Never send money for a rental you have not physically visited — verify the property exists and the 'landlord' owns it. Search the listing photos on Google Images to see if they appear on other real estate sites under a different listing. Meet the landlord in person and verify ownership through county property records before signing any lease.
Who is most at risk for craigslist fake rental listing scam?+
This scam primarily targets Renters, Young adults, Families, College students. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Craigslist.
Is craigslist fake rental listing scam on the rise?+
Craigslist fake rental listing scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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