Rental Deposit Scam

Scammers are exploiting desperate renters, especially in hot housing markets. They create fake listings, collect deposits, then vanish leaving victims out of thousands of dollars. 

🌍 Real-World Rental Deposit Scam Cases

🇬🇧 United Kingdom (London)

In London, desperate renters lost money to fake shared accommodation listings on Facebook and Gumtree. Victims were pressured to transfer deposits before seeing the property. Police later found that some of the scammers were operating from overseas, using stolen images and messaging apps to appear local. Losses in individual cases ranged from a few hundred to several thousand pounds.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom (Samy Daim Case)

A former estate agent, Samy Daim, posed as a landlord and collected over £213,000 in deposits from at least 11 people. Victims were shown real flats, including Airbnbs, before handing over money. Although this scammer was in the UK, the case highlights how convincing fraudsters can be when they gain physical access to properties.

🇦🇺 Australia (Sydney)

An Australian couple lost their $3,000 bond after answering a rental ad that used stolen photos from a real property listing. The “landlord” claimed to be overseas and insisted on a transfer before mailing the keys. Authorities later confirmed the scammer was not in Australia.

🇨🇦 Canada (Cobourg, Ontario)

A 22-year-old woman was arrested for posing as a landlord and collecting deposits for a property that wasn’t actually available. Victims were tricked into sending payments through gift cards and e-transfers. Unlike many scams run from abroad, this case involved a local fraudster who was caught and charged.

🇨🇦 Canada (Richmond, British Columbia)

At least five renters lost deposits in under two months after replying to online ads for apartments. In each case, the “landlord” asked for an e-transfer deposit, then disappeared. Investigators suspect the scammers were operating outside Canada, since phone numbers and email accounts traced back to international servers.

🇨🇦 Canada (Thunder Bay, Ontario)

Several renters reported losing money after being pressured to e-transfer deposits for local apartments they had not seen. One listing used a Franklin Street address with convincing photos. Police believe the perpetrators were not located in Thunder Bay — or even in Canada.

🇨🇦 Canada (Kitchener, Ontario)

At least 21 people were scammed by fake rental listings in Kitchener. Victims paid deposits for units that didn’t exist. Investigators linked some of the accounts to international fraud networks, showing that the criminals behind the scam were not in the country.

🇨🇦 Canada (North Bay, Ontario)

Victims paid deposits for apartments that either didn’t exist or were already rented out. In many cases, the supposed “landlord” refused to meet in person, claiming to be abroad. Police later confirmed that several of the ads were controlled by scammers outside Canada

🔎  𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜

• Run a reverse image search to see if the photos are stolen from real estate sites.

• Copy & paste phrases from the ad into Google or social media search bars to check for identical posts across different cities and countries.

• Remember: scammers recycle the same words and pictures repeatedly.

🤝 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣

Legitimate landlords will show you the property. Scammers invent excuses (“I’m overseas,” “too busy,” “my friend will give you the keys”) to avoid face-to-face meetings. If they refuse, walk away.

🧾 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙮 𝙊𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥

Ask who owns the property, then check through local property records, land title offices, or a licensed realtor. Never rely solely on what the “landlord” tells you.

💳 𝘼𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙄𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨

Scammers push for payment methods that can’t be reversed:

 💵 Cash

💸 Money wiring services

📱 Peer-to-peer apps (Venmo, CashApp, etc.)

🎁 Gift cards (yes, some ask for these)

Stick to secure, traceable payments and always demand a receipt.

✍️ 𝙍𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚

A real landlord will provide a written lease. Review every detail, and be wary of vague or sloppy documents. Scammers often skip leases entirely or present fake ones.

⚠️ 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫

🚨 Unrealistic Rent Prices — If it’s way below market value, it’s bait.

⏳ Pressure to Act Fast — “Send money today or lose it.” Urgency is a classic tactic.

🛑 No In-Person Meetings — Anyone who won’t show the property is hiding something.

🌍 Excuses About Location — They claim to be “out of the country” but promise to mail keys.

📄 Incomplete Paperwork — No lease, or vague contracts missing names, dates, or terms.

💬 Strange Communication — Poor grammar, refusal to answer questions directly, or only texting with no calls.

📦 Requests for Unusual Payments — Gift cards, crypto, or deposits before viewing.

👀 Too Good to Be True — If it feels off, trust your instincts.

🎯  𝙄𝙛 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙏𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙

🛑 Cut off all contact immediately

❌ Do not send money or personal documents

📣 Report the ad to the platform (Craigslist, Facebook, Zillow, Kijiji, etc.)

🚔 File a report with your local police and provide screenshots/evidence

📢 𝙎𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙

Rental scams thrive when people don’t know what to look for. Share this guide it could save someone from losing their deposit or even their life savings.