Since 2020, nearly 65,000 cases of rental scams have been reported by consumers, according to a new analysis from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These scams have resulted in losses totaling approximately $65 million. The FTC’s latest Consumer Protection Data Spotlight indicates that many of these scams originate from fake listings on platforms such as Facebook and Craigslist.
The FTC notes that scammers often create fraudulent rental listings by copying information from legitimate advertisements but changing the contact details to their own. "Rental scams usually involve fake rental listings, which can often look very real and copy information from legitimate listings but are posted with the scammer’s contact information on different sites," the FTC stated.
Social media has played a significant role in the proliferation of these scams. About half of those who reported a rental scam in the 12 months ending June 2025 said they first encountered it through a fake ad on Facebook. Young adults between ages 18 and 29 were three times more likely than other age groups to report financial losses due to rental scams.
The FTC outlined several tactics used by scammers:
- Pressuring consumers to pay money before viewing a property.
- Requesting screenshots of credit scores via affiliate links that may enroll users in paid memberships with recurring fees.
- Collecting personal information like Social Security numbers or paystubs for identity theft purposes.
To help avoid falling victim to such schemes, the FTC recommends searching for the rental address online to check for inconsistencies in pricing or contact details across multiple sites. Consumers should refrain from sharing personal information until they have agreed to rent a property and be cautious if an advertised rent is significantly lower than similar properties in the area.
"The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts," according to an official statement from the agency.
