Apartment scams are on the rise as renters turn to social media to try to find housing deals
New warning issued over apartment listings as renters lose $600K
- Real estate scams are significantly increasing on social media platforms, targeting renters seeking affordable housing.
- Scammers pose as agents, using legitimate listings with artificially low rents to entice prospective tenants into paying application fees or deposits.
- If an interested renter questions a fraudster, they employ sophisticated tactics, including sending altered real estate licenses and fake agency websites, making it difficult for victims to discern authenticity.
- Legitimate real estate agents and firms are also affected, with their listings and videos being reposted by scammers, leading to warnings and increased efforts to combat fraud.
- The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported over 130 complaints referencing social media real estate scams in the first five months of 2025, totaling approximately $600,000 in losses.