International students lose thousands of dollars each year to rental fraud. However these scams are entirely preventable.
Since 2020, consumers have reported nearly 65,000 rental scams totaling $65 million in losses to the Federal Trade Commission, with young adults aged 18-29 being three times more likely than other age groups to fall victim.
The median loss sits at $1,000 per person, though some students have lost significantly more. The stakes are particularly high for international students searching for accommodation from overseas, often without the ability to visit properties in person or verify landlords face-to-face.
This guide will equip you with everything you need to identify housing scams, understand why scammers target students, and take concrete steps to protect yourself.
Whether you're searching for your first apartment abroad or helping a friend navigate the rental market, recognizing the warning signs can save you from financial and emotional devastation.
So let's dive right in!
Why scammers specifically target international students?
International students represent ideal targets for rental scams because of their unique vulnerabilities.
Unable to view properties before arriving in their destination country, these students must rely on photos, descriptions, and virtual communication—exactly the conditions scammers exploit.
Unfamiliarity with local rental processes, typical market prices, and legitimate landlord practices creates additional blind spots.
Students also facing visa requirements, academic deadlines, and limited time to secure accommodation before classes begin are more susceptible to pressure tactics.
Therefore platforms such as AmberStudent have emerged specifically to address these vulnerabilities, offering verified rental listings and support services designed for international students who cannot physically inspect properties before signing leases.
The most common types of house rental scams
Fake listing scams involve scammers copying legitimate rental advertisements, often from real estate websites or property management companies, and reposting them with different contact information.
The Facebook marketplace rental scam has become particularly prevalent. FTC data from December 2025 reveals that approximately half of all reported rental scams in the past year originated from fake ads on Facebook.
Scammers post attractive listings at below-market prices, request payment through untraceable methods, and vanish once money transfers.
Fake landlord scams involve fraudsters posing as property owners or managers. They may gain physical access to vacant properties and show them to multiple prospective tenants, collecting deposits from each.
Wire transfer scams specifically target the payment phase. Scammers insist on receiving funds through Western Union, MoneyGram or cryptocurrency, or mobile payment apps that offer virtually no fraud protection or recovery options.
Red flags that expose rental scammers instantly
Certain warning signs should immediately halt any rental transaction.
Prices significantly below market rates represent the most obvious indicator, if a furnished one-bedroom apartment rents for $1,200 when comparable units cost $2,500, something is wrong.
Platforms like uHomes and UniversityLiving allow you to compare pricing across thousands of verified student properties, helping establish realistic expectations for your target city.
Communication patterns reveal scammer intentions. Legitimate landlords welcome phone calls and video tours; scammers usually avoid them.
Common excuses include claims of being 'out of the country', 'on a mission trip', 'serving in the military overseas', or 'dealing with a family emergency'.
Watch for these additional red flags:
- Requests for payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or payment apps before viewing.
- Pressure to decide immediately because 'others are interested'.
- Refusal to provide a specific street address.
- Applications conducted entirely via text message with informal formats.
- Landlord doesn't require credit checks or background verification.
- Photos with MLS watermarks (indicating stolen images from real estate listings).
- Very new and odd social media profiles with few connections.
Payment demands represent the clearest danger zone. Never wire money or pay via gift cards for a rental. Once sent through these methods, your money is essentially unrecoverable.
Spotting scam posts on Facebook groups and Marketplace
Rental scams on Facebook follow predictable patterns. Learning to recognize them protects you from the platform where half of all rental fraud originates.
A typical scam post reads like this:
Hello Everyone 👋
'Super Honest Landlord'
I have a very beautiful furnished unit available for rent. Very affordable at a great price. Inbox me for more details or DM me with a screenshot of this post.
The request for a screenshot indicates the scammer operates across multiple housing groups in different cities. They need to know which group you're responding from. Legitimate landlords with actual properties don't need this.
Grammatical errors and odd phrasing often signal overseas scammers. Documented fake applications sent via text included misspellings like 'proffession' and asked questions such as 'How long do you intend staying?'— constructions a native speaker would rarely use.
Self-promotion schemes represent another variant. Scammers post as 'ultra-wealthy individuals looking for student tenants' or claim to be 'students wanting to help others by connecting them with their wonderful and honest landlord'. This supposed honest landlord invariably doesn't exist.
Practical verification steps before sending any money
Protecting yourself requires systematic verification before committing funds to any rental.
Reverse image search every listing photo. Right-click images and select 'Search Google for this image' to discover if photos appear elsewhere, often on real estate company websites or in listings for different cities entirely.
Verify ownership through official records. County tax assessment websites and property databases confirm who actually owns properties. Cross-reference this with any landlord identification you're shown.
Demand live video tours, not pre-recorded. If visiting in person isn't possible, insist on real-time video calls where you can ask the person showing the property to demonstrate specific things on the spot.
Contact rental companies directly using independently found contact information. Never use phone numbers or emails from listings - scammers control those.
What to do if you've already been scammed?
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately. Report unauthorized transactions and request chargebacks. Credit cards offer the strongest protection under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Debit cards provide less protection but banks may still help if contacted within 24-48 hours.
Report the fraudulent listing. On Facebook Marketplace, click the three-dot menu, select 'Report listing', and select 'Scam'. Also report the seller's profile. Post warnings in local housing Facebook groups to prevent others from becoming victims.
Document everything: screenshots of communications, payment confirmations, listing details, and any identifying information about the scammer that might help for the further investigation by the police.
Choose safer alternatives for student housing
The safest approach involves using platforms specifically designed for student accommodation with built-in verification systems.
✅ AmberStudent offers over one million verified beds across 250+ cities globally, with a 'No Visa, No Pay' refund policy protecting students whose visa applications fail.
✅ UniversityLiving serves 640+ global cities with 65,000+ verified properties connected to over 5,500 universities.
✅ uHomes offers 20,000+ verified student homes with letting consultants who can arrange viewings and answer detailed questions about properties.
✅ Spacest specializes in medium to long-term rentals across major European cities including Milan, Berlin, Madrid, Paris, and Lisbon.
FAQs
What are the most common rental scams?
Fake listing scams (copying legitimate ads with changed contact information), fake landlord scams (impersonating property owners), wire transfer scams demanding untraceable payments, and Facebook Marketplace scams represent the most prevalent threats.
How can you tell if someone is a rental scammer?
Key indicators include prices significantly below market rate, refusal to meet in person or conduct live video tours, claims of being 'overseas' or traveling, requests for payment via wire transfer or cryptocurrency, pressure to decide immediately, and very new social media profiles.
How do you check if a rental is legitimate?
Verify property ownership through county tax records, reverse image search all listing photos, call the management company using numbers from their official website (not the listing), demand live video tours, and check reviews and complaints online.
What payment methods should I avoid when renting?
Never pay deposits or rent via wire transfers (Western Union, MoneyGram), cryptocurrency, gift cards, or peer-to-peer payment apps (Venmo, Zelle, Cash App) when dealing with unknown landlords. These methods offer no fraud protection. Credit cards and verified platform payments provide the strongest security.
What should international students do if they can't visit a property before renting?
Use verified student housing platforms like AmberStudent, UniversityLiving, Spacest or uHomes that pre-screen properties. Request live video tours with the ability to direct what the person shows you. Have a trusted local contact visit on your behalf.
