The Top Craigslist Housing Scams
By Housing Rocket
Craigslist is a popular website for finding rental properties, but it is also a common source of rental scams. Because of the safety features of the site, Craigslist rental scams are common and can be very difficult to spot.
Finding Housing on Craigslist
Craigslist is a popular platform for finding housing because it offers a wide range of listings for rental properties, including apartments, houses, and rooms for rent. This level of control also opens it up to an extreme number of scammers.
Fake Landlord Scams
In the fake landlord scam, scammers pose as the owner or manager of a rental property. They may even show you the home, but it isn't really theirs to rent out. Sometimes the renter being scammed even moves in and real owners come knocking!
Fake Listing Scams
In this scam, the scammer creates a fake rental listing with false information and pictures, and tries to set the renter up for a deposit or rental payment before seeing the property or signing a lease.
Identity Theft Scams
In this type of scam, the person posting the rental listing is attempting to steal personal information from potential renters. They may ask for sensitive information, such as a social security number or bank account details.