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How to Catch a Rental Scammer (2024)

Renting an apartment with your hard-earned money indicates that you should do your due diligence to verify if what the property dealer or your soon-to-be landlord said is true. We totally understand that you want to choose a place quickly to get situated as soon as possible. However, there are many cases of people falling victim to rental scams. To spot a rental scammer and avoid getting swindled, you can try the methods in this article.

Method 1: Trust your gut feelings

Obviously, there are some common red flags that you can recognize at the beginning. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is! Compare the listing price with the market average and you should know whether they’re trying to lure you into a rental scam.

In addition, any claims to urge you to wire the money should make you stay wary. Do not sign on the dotted line before you ever see the property or meet the landlord.

Image by upklyak on Freepik

Method 2: Ask for proof of ownership

Whether you’re contacting the dealer or the owner (They may claim to be. ), you should ask them to show you the documents that could prove they have the authority to rent the apartment. If they own the property, they should be able to show you their ID and provide some documents, including but not limited to deed or title, homeowners insurance documentation, property tax receipt, or bill. If they have various reasons for not being able to provide any document, something might be amiss.

Image by upklyak on Freepik

Method 3: Google that address to verify

To avoid becoming a victim of scams, one essential and effective step you should take is to Google that address. Simply input the address listed in the descriptions and hit Enter. Then browse through the results to gather as much information as is available and use it to make an informed decision.

On the first page of your Google search, you should also see the Street View on Google Maps. Zoom in to check if you can find any similarities to what they told you about the property. If what you see from the map doesn’t match the exterior photo in the listing, chances are they don’t actually own the property.

Method 4: Search for county assessor records online

Another method you can try is to look for details from the County Assessor’s Office. What you have to do is enter the county name along with the phrase county assessor records in the search box and hit Enter.

Disclaimer: The screenshot displayed above is used for illustrative purposes only. All copyrights and trademarks displayed on the screenshot, including any logos or branding, belong to their respective owners.

Most of the time, you’ll find it showing up on the first page. Simply go to the website with the .gov domain. Then input the address of that property in the search box and click SEARCH.

Disclaimer: The screenshot displayed above is used for illustrative purposes only. All copyrights and trademarks displayed on the screenshot, including any logos or branding, belong to their respective owners. And your page may look slightly different depending on the specific website you’re visiting.

Now, you should be able to find more details about that property.

Disclaimer: The screenshot displayed above is used for illustrative purposes only. All copyrights and trademarks displayed on the screenshot, including any logos or branding, belong to their respective owners. And your page may look slightly different depending on the specific website you’re visiting.

If there are no results appearing on the page, you should stay vigilant. Do not wire money before you can see the documents and most importantly, the property.

Rental Scammer Checker

1. Enter Name 2. View Report

Search Now

Although the methods listed above can somehow help you gather information about the property to hopefully avoid getting duped, they may not be able to assist you in unveiling their true identity. Have they been flagged as a scammer? To find it out, we recommend you use a legit people search engine like BeenVerified or Social Catfish. You can find details about that person using a name, email address, phone number, and even an image! In addition, you can conduct a reverse address lookup to help you decide if you should rent that property.

A people search engine will comb through billions of data points across dozens of public databases and then prepare a detailed report that may include the following information:

  • Contact info

    Names, aliases, phone numbers, and email addresses.
  • Personal details

    Birth information, marital status, education level, hobbies + interests.
  • Location history

    Current address, past addresses, residents, neighbors, etc.
  • Family & Associates

    Family members, household demographics, birth records, and marriage records.
  • Court records

    Criminal records, DUIs, sex offenses, and more!
  • Social media accounts

    Social media, usernames, dating sites.

For users who want to research a property, you can expect to acquire a wealth of information including owner details, property details, building permits, deeds, liens, property valuation, and more!

How to find information about that person & property

Based on the information you have at hand, click on the link below, which will redirect you to BeenVerified’s search page.

Then you can follow the on-screen instructions to find your match. When a report is ready, click on it and locate the section that displays the useful information for you.

As an alternative, Social Catfish makes checking the authenticity of a rental property a breeze. All you have to do is upload the image. Then you’ll see if the person you’re speaking with is a scammer who steals images and lists them as their rental trying to take your deposit.

Check Authenticity

Look up rental pictures to make sure that they’re not listed on other sites.

Check It Now


So this is the full guide on how you can spot a rental scammer and check the authenticity of a property to prevent yourself from getting duped. Hope you find it helpful. With some tips and tricks, we believe you’ll find the rental property that is legit, within your budget, and of your preference!

*All product names, logos, brands, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

exclamation-blueThere’s no guarantee you’ll find the information you’re looking for with the tools discussed in this article. They all source their information from publicly available data sources, such as county, state and federal courts, government departments, and police records, and those sources may contain incorrect or incomplete data. It’s illegal to use these tools to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. Read the Fair Credit Reporting Act to learn more....

By Sammi Liu

Greetings! I'm Sammi, and my journey as a content writer began right after graduation. While my initial academic focus was in Public Finance, I later pursued a major in English Literature. This diverse educational background has equipped me with a unique skill set that combines analytical thinking with a passion for creative expression.

My career path has led me to become a proficient content writer with a keen eye for research. Intensive training in Microsoft Office, coupled with a natural curiosity, has allowed me to incorporate design principles and advanced internet search techniques into my work seamlessly.

What truly sets me apart is my knack for research. I've dedicated time to mastering advanced internet search techniques, inspired by countless articles and video tutorials on the subject. This has transformed me into a seasoned researcher, skilled at uncovering reliable and valuable information.

In addition to my professional pursuits, I'm a tech enthusiast who stays current with the latest trends through YouTube. Listening to podcasts of various genres has been a hobby of mine, especially in every morning. I balance my professional life with an active one, enjoying badminton, table tennis, tennis, and yoga. On weekends, you'll find me lost in the pages of books in the local library or soaking in the beauty of nature on bike rides. I'm also passionate about culinary arts, frequently experimenting with recipes and crafting delightful beverages like smoothies.

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