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Zillow scams
Zillow scams copy real listings to create fake rental postings or impersonate sellers to intercept wire transfers. The high dollar amounts in real estate make these scams especially damaging.
Common searches
Watch for
- The listing price is well below market rate for the neighborhood.
- The landlord is unavailable for in-person showing and asks for a deposit to hold the unit.
- Communication moves off Zillow to personal email or text very quickly.
- The listing photos appear on multiple other sites under different addresses.
fake Zillow listing rental scam
Scammers copy real property listings from Zillow and repost them at below-market rent, then collect deposits from multiple victims for a property they do not own.
Reverse image search listing photos to check if they appear on other sites.
Renters
U.S.
Zillow fake listing contact form scam
Scammers create fake property listings on Zillow with below-market prices and use the contact form to redirect interested renters or buyers to off-platform communication where they extract deposits or personal information.
Never send money for a rental without touring the property in person and verifying the landlord's identity.
Renters
U.S.
Zillow agent impersonator scam
Scammers impersonate licensed real estate agents listed on Zillow, contacting potential buyers or renters to collect personal financial information or upfront fees under the guise of facilitating a transaction.
Verify any agent's identity by calling their brokerage directly using the number listed on the brokerage website.
Homebuyers
U.S.
Zillow pre-approval phishing scam
A phishing email or ad claims to offer instant mortgage pre-approval through Zillow, harvesting Social Security numbers, financial records, and personal information.
Apply for mortgage pre-approval only through verified lenders or directly at zillow.com/home-loans.
Homebuyers
U.S.
Zillow rental application fee scam
A fake landlord on Zillow charges non-refundable application fees for a property they do not own, collecting fees from multiple applicants for the same listing.
Verify property ownership through your county's property assessor website before paying any fees.
Renters
U.S.
Zillow Offers impersonator scam
Scammers impersonate the discontinued Zillow Offers program, contacting homeowners with unsolicited purchase offers and requesting personal financial details or upfront fees to proceed.
Be aware that Zillow Offers was shut down in November 2021 — any offer claiming to be from this program is fraudulent.
Homeowners
U.S.
Zillow fake open house RSVP scam
A phishing email or listing promotes a fake open house event for an attractive property, collecting personal information through a fraudulent RSVP form.
Verify open houses directly with the listing agent by calling the number on their brokerage website.
Homebuyers
U.S.
Zillow mortgage rate bait scam
Deceptive ads or emails promise unrealistically low mortgage rates through Zillow, collecting personal and financial information from hopeful borrowers.
Compare mortgage rates on trusted sites like zillow.com, bankrate.com, or your own bank.
Homebuyers
U.S.
Zillow Zestimate manipulation scam
Scammers claim they can artificially inflate a home's Zestimate value on Zillow for a fee, which is impossible since Zestimates are algorithmically generated and cannot be manually altered.
Understand that Zestimates are algorithmically generated and cannot be manually inflated by third parties.
Homeowners
U.S.
Zillow fake property management scam
Scammers pose as property management companies on Zillow listings, collecting rent payments and security deposits for properties they have no authority to lease.
Verify the property management company through the property owner or county assessor records.
Renters
U.S.
Zillow home valuation data harvest scam
A phishing ad or email offers a free home valuation through Zillow, but the form collects extensive personal information used for identity theft and targeted real estate scams.
Check your home's Zestimate for free directly at zillow.com — no additional personal data is required.
Homeowners
U.S.
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