Whether you’ve been planning a move for months or you’re dealing with last-minute orders, military moves can be both exciting and stressful. The last thing you need is a rental scam to raise that stress level, so here’s how to spot them.
Some scammers make up listings for housing that’s not for rent or doesn’t exist. Others steal pictures from legit listings. They post their fake listings on a different site and grab your attention with below market rent. And since they can’t get into the property (it’s not theirs to rent), they make up excuses for why you can’t see it in person, which could be a sign of a scam.
Another sign of a scam is a “landlord” who says you can only pay for a rental with cash, a gift card, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer service. If you pay, the scammer will disappear with your money — and you’ll be left with no place to move to.
Even if you’re rushing to secure a new address, slow down. Before you sign or pay for an apartment, do some recon:
- Search the rental address online. If you find the same property listed with a different price or landlord, it’s likely a scam.
- Check it out in person if you can. If you’re not local, ask someone you trust to go on a tour of the home for you — or to drive by to make sure the home they see matches what you saw advertised. The relocation or housing referral office at your new base can also help with finding places to rent (and companies to avoid).
- Pay attention to how they ask you to pay. Paying for a rental with a gift card or cryptocurrency or through a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram is like sending cash. After you send the money, it’s hard to get it back.
Report rental listing scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state’s attorney general.
