A beautiful apartment at a price that seems too good to be true, an owner who can’t meet you, and a request for a deposit to “hold” the place. It’s one of the most common scams online, and it usually starts with photos stolen from a real listing.
Checking those photos takes a couple of minutes and can save you a lot of money.
Quick answer: run the listing photos through a reverse image search. If the same pictures appear on another listing, a different city, a hotel site or an old sale advert, the listing is almost certainly fake. Never pay before you’ve seen the place in person.
Warning signs of a fake rental listing
- The price is well below similar homes in the same area.
- The “owner” is abroad, travelling or otherwise unable to show you the property.
- You’re pushed to decide fast because “lots of people are interested”.
- They want money before a viewing: a deposit, first month’s rent or an application fee.
- Unusual payment methods, such as wire transfers, gift cards, crypto or payment apps to a personal account.
- The conversation moves off the platform to email, WhatsApp or text.
- Vague or inconsistent details about the address, the building or who owns it.
Common versions of the scam
- The copied listing: photos and description taken from a real rental or sale advert and reposted at a lower price.
- The “keys by post” landlord: an owner who says they’ll send the keys once you pay the deposit.
- The fake agent: someone posing as an agent who asks for an “inspection” or “agency” fee before showing anything.
- The holiday let: a beach house or city apartment that doesn’t exist, often advertised on social media.
How to check the listing photos
- Save or screenshot two or three of the listing photos, ideally different rooms.
- Open our free Reverse Image Search and upload the first photo.
- Tap Google Lens, then TinEye and Bing.
- Look for the same photos on other websites, especially with a different price, address, city or agent.
- Repeat with the other photos.
What the results tell you
- Same photos, different address or city: the listing is fake.
- Photos from an old sale listing or estate agent site: the scammer has probably copied a real property. Contact the real agent to check.
- Photos from a hotel or holiday rental site: almost certainly a scam.
- No matches: that’s a good sign, but not proof. Keep going with the checks below.
More checks before you pay anything
- Look up the address on a map and use street view to check the building matches the photos.
- Search the address online. It may be listed for sale, or already rented through a real agency.
- Insist on a viewing in person or on a live video call where they walk through the property.
- Check who owns it. In many places you can look up property ownership records.
- Pay safely. Use traceable payment methods and get a written agreement. Never send money to someone you haven’t met for a home you haven’t seen.
If you’ve already paid
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately; the sooner you act, the better the chance of stopping the payment. Report the listing to the website it was posted on, and report the scam to the police or your country’s fraud reporting service. In the US, that’s ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Frequently asked questions
Can a real listing have photos that appear elsewhere?
Yes. A property might be listed on several rental sites at once by the same agent. The warning sign is the same photos with a different price, address or contact person.
Is it safe to pay a holding deposit?
Only once you’ve seen the property, confirmed who owns or manages it, and signed something in writing.
What if the landlord won’t do a video call?
Treat that as a serious red flag. A real landlord or agent can almost always show you the property.
Found a place that looks too good to be true? Check its photos with our free Reverse Image Search before you send a penny.