Rental Scams

Renting an apartment, especially for the first time or in a new city, can be an exciting experience. However, scam artists have found ways to take advantage of people looking for housing, and students must be cautious, especially when communicating with people online.

About Rental Scams

While there are variations on a theme, typically the scam artist posts an advertisement for an apartment online, but the apartment either doesn’t exist or the scam artist doesn’t have the right to rent it. When the prospective tenant contacts the “landlord” about the apartment, the scam artist will usually have a story about why they cannot meet the tenant in person.

They’ll ask the prospective tenant to send money for the rent or other costs with a promise that they will mail the keys in return. After the prospective tenant sends money, the scammer disappears.

Why Rental Scams Work

Students, especially international students, often have to line up for housing before arriving in Chicago, so they are not in a position to do a thorough investigation.

In addition, the scams can be very sophisticated. They appear on commonly used websites such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Apartments.com, and scammers may impersonate legitimate companies. The scammer may even ask you to sign a lease. For these reasons, it can be easy to fall for rental scams.

🚩 Red Flags to Watch Out For

• Suspiciously low rent. Scammers know that innocent renters will be less cautious if they are motivated to close quickly on a deal so they don’t lose out on something too good to be true.
• Urgency to sign or pay: Scammers may pressure you to act fast, creating a false sense of urgency to sign a lease or make a payment.
• Inconsistent listing details: Be wary of errors or contradictions in the listing, such as mismatched photos, descriptions, or contact information.
• Request for payment before viewing: Never pay any money before you’ve had the chance to see the property in person or via a verified video tour.
• Request to wire money. Legitimate landlords do not ask renters to wire money to any account, especially an account located abroad. Nor do they ask for money by Western Union, MoneyGram or other money transfer service.
• No background or credit check: A legitimate landlord will usually require a background or credit check before approving a tenant.
• Request to use another listing service or escrow account to transfer money. Scammers may impersonate legitimate listings services, like AirBnB or HomeAway, or request that money is sent to an escrow account to make renters believe they are dealing with a legitimate entity.
• Claim of affiliation with UT Dallas, Off Campus Partners, or Apartments.com. Scammers may impersonate our site to make it seem like we participate in the lease transaction or transfer of funds. We do not participate in any transactions between landlords and renters, and we will never ask you for money to use our site or any of our services.
• Dramatic landlord story. The landlord has received a job assignment abroad and must rent the unit ASAP. You are invited to drive by the building, but no one can show it to you because everyone is already living abroad. And you need to commit in the next 24 hours because dozens of people are waiting to sign the lease. A legitimate landlord will meet you in person and allow you to tour the property before asking for a deposit to secure the rental.
• Can’t or won’t meet in person. For whatever reason, the landlord/agent refuses to meet you in person at the property. They may even send you an access code to unlock an electronic lockbox to gain entry by yourself to the house, condo or apartment you are looking to rent.

✅ How to Avoid Rental Scams

Watch out for red flags, and trust your instincts. Here are ways to avoid being taken advantage of:

• Don’t send money if you haven’t seen the apartment or met the landlord. If this is not possible because you will be arriving from out of state, you should consider living in DePaul student housing at first or renting from a company with plenty of information online. Otherwise, try to find landlords who are willing to meet you in person when you arrive in Chicago to exchange money and keys. If you have a friend or family member in Chicago, see if they can meet the landlord on your behalf or go to the address of the apartment to see if it exists. You can also do an online search of the apartment and landlord. You can even hire a licensed real estate agent to help you find a legitimate apartment.
• Never wire money to a prospective landlord or deal in cash. These transfers are difficult to trace and stop. Do not send money via a transfer service such as Western Union, MoneyGram, Bitcoin, or MoneyPak. Also, don’t send money through a listing service such as Airbnb or HomeAway, as scammers sometimes impersonate these agencies. Legitimate landlords will usually accept a certified or regular check or a credit card payment.
• Beware of apartments that are too good to be true. Be aware of market rates, and don’t trust the pictures. Scammers play on your emotions. If you see a gorgeous apartment with cheap rent for the area, you may feel like you have to jump on this opportunity. Don’t fall for it.
• Don’t fall for a dramatic story. Scammers have elaborate reasons for why they can’t meet you and will make you think that you must commit to taking the apartment.
• Be suspicious of over-eager landlords. Legitimate landlords usually want to verify your income, check your credit, or run a criminal background check. They usually want you to sign a lease. Scam artists are often in a hurry to complete the transaction and won’t be interested in this process. This should be cause for concern.
• Question unnecessary fees. In Illinois, there are no laws limiting rental amounts or security deposits, but landlords typically want the first month’s rent and a security deposit or administrative fee in advance. Scam artists often tack on all kinds of additional fees or extra costs or ask for prepaid rent. This should raise an alarm.
• Ask for a lawyer’s advice. DePaul offers free legal advice to students. If you are not sure whether you are dealing with a scam artist, contact Croak Community Legal Clinic at 773-325-1588.

What to Do If You are Scammed

If you find a rental scam, here's what you should do:

Step 1: Stop communication.

Immediately stop engaging with the suspected scammer.

Step 2: Report it.

Share as much information as you can, including any conversations you’ve had with the scammer, a link to the listing (if it’s still available), and any other relevant details.

Report the scam to the following:

• The website or service where you encountered the scammer
  • If you suspect a scam on this website, please report it right away by selecting “Report an Issue” in the bottom-left corner of the listing page and contacting customer support with any details as soon as possible.
• DePaul University Public Safety – Lincoln Park: 773-325-7777; Loop: 312-362-8400
• The police department in the city where you were when the scam took place
• The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
• The Federal Trade Commission
• The Illinois Attorney General (or the Attorney General in the state where you were when the scam took place)
• If you sent money by Western Union or Money Gram, those vendors’ customer service departments may be able to stop the transfer:
  • Western Union Complaint Procedure
  • MoneyGram Complaint Procedure

Step 3: Document everything.

Save copies of the emails, texts, or any other communications related to the scam in case you need them for further action.

Examples of Real-life Rental Scams

Review the examples below. In one case, an owner allegedly located in the UK provides an overly detailed story explaining why the unit is available and why she does not reside in the U.S.:

Landlord who cannot deal face to face because he lives in the UK says Airbnb agent will hold a refundable deposit and give renter an opportunity to inspect the apartment:

Additional Resources:

• Don’t Get Catfished: How to Avoid Rental Scams
• What to Know About Online Leasing
• Here's How to Find Your Perfect Apartment Online