Why it matters
People have reported nearly 65,000 rental scams to the FTC since 2020, with about $65 million in losses; in the year to June 2025, about half started with a fake Facebook ad (FTC, Dec 2025).
Look up the landlord's name or number
Private search. Nobody is notified.
The checks
- Ownership: search the address on the county assessor or recorder website. The owner name should match the landlord or a company they manage for. See how to find out who owns a property.
- Duplicate listings: search the address and reverse-search the photos. Scammers copy real listings and change the contact details (FTC).
- See it in person or by live video with someone you have verified. "I'm out of the country, I'll mail the keys" is a classic scam.
- Look up the landlord's name and number. Make sure the identity is consistent.
- Pay safely: only after signing a lease, by check or card or through a known property-management portal.
What a landlord may check about you
Landlords who run your credit or background must use a tenant screening company covered by the FCRA, and you have the right to see and dispute the report (CFPB). A landlord does not need your Social Security number before you have agreed to rent.