$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
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.
“rental scam”
↑ 274%Key indicators
Usually targetsRenters
Often hitsReal estate professionals and homebuyers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$1.2K
median reported loss
Typical range$240 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~10%
Annual reports43,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers list a property they do not own on Zillow, often at an attractive price.
2
They charge application fees to dozens of interested renters, collecting hundreds or thousands of dollars.
3
The listing is removed once enough fees are collected, and the scammer disappears.
What to do first
Verify property ownership through your county's property assessor website before paying any fees.
Related terms
fake rental application feeZillow app fee scamrental fee harvestingRental scamsZillowRisingRentersYoung adultsStudentsReal estate professionals and homebuyersEducators and studentsOnline shoppersUnited Statesfake rental application feeZillow app fee scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Mark, 27, a renters, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate rental scams situation while using Zillow. Scammers list a property they do not own on Zillow, often at an attractive price.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They charge application fees to dozens of interested renters, collecting hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The listing is removed once enough fees are collected, and the scammer disappears.
The outcome
Mark realized something was wrong when application fee is significantly higher than typical fees in the area. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify property ownership through your county's property assessor website before paying any fees. Mark's experience shows why application fee is significantly higher than typical fees in the area and landlord requests fees from multiple applicants without scheduling viewings are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Application fee is significantly higher than typical fees in the area
- Landlord requests fees from multiple applicants without scheduling viewings
- Payment method is wire transfer, Zelle, or gift cards rather than a standard application portal
- 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
- ✓Verify property ownership through your county's property assessor website before paying any fees.
- ✓Legitimate application fees are typically under 50 USD and processed through established platforms.
- ✓Report fake listings to Zillow and file a complaint with your state's attorney general.
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.
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.
- The BBB reports that rental application fee scams are among the most common types of rental fraud, with victims losing an average of 500 to 1,000 USD per incident.
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.
- ✓Verify property ownership through your county's property assessor website before paying any fees.
- ✓Legitimate application fees are typically under 50 USD and processed through established platforms.
- ✓Report fake listings to Zillow and file a complaint with your state's attorney general.
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.
The BBB reports that rental application fee scams are among the most common types of rental fraud, with victims losing an average of 500 to 1,000 USD per incident.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
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, Students
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Zillow — 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
- The BBB reports that rental application fee scams are among the most common types of rental fraud, with victims losing an average of 500 to 1,000 USD per incident.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about zillow rental application fee scam
How does the zillow rental application fee scam work?+
Scammers list a property they do not own on Zillow, often at an attractive price. They charge application fees to dozens of interested renters, collecting hundreds or thousands of dollars. The listing is removed once enough fees are collected, and the scammer disappears.
What are the warning signs of zillow rental application fee scam?+
Application fee is significantly higher than typical fees in the area Landlord requests fees from multiple applicants without scheduling viewings Payment method is wire transfer, Zelle, or gift cards rather than a standard application portal
What should I do if I encounter zillow rental application fee scam?+
Verify property ownership through your county's property assessor website before paying any fees. Legitimate application fees are typically under 50 USD and processed through established platforms. Report fake listings to Zillow and file a complaint with your state's attorney general.
Who is most at risk for zillow rental application fee scam?+
This scam primarily targets Renters, Young adults, Students. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Zillow.
Is zillow rental application fee scam on the rise?+
Zillow rental application fee scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US. 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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