The Boston Police Department is warning residents about a rise in apartment rental scams targeting individuals searching for housing throughout the city.
These scams typically involve individuals fraudulently posing as landlords or rental agents. Scammers often post fake listings for properties that either do not exist, have already been rented, or have been copied from legitimate advertisements. Victims are then pressured to send money up front, frequently via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, for application fees, deposits, or first month’s rent without ever seeing the property.
In many cases, scammers also request sensitive personal information, increasing the risk of identity theft. These fraudulent listings have appeared on various platforms, including Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and other legitimate rental websites.
To avoid falling victim to rental scams, the Boston Police Department and the Federal Trade Commission recommend the following precautions:
- Research the rental company or landlord by searching their name along with words like “complaint,” “review,” or “scam”
- Be wary of prices that are significantly lower than comparable listings in the area
- Never let anyone rush you into making a quick decision or payment
- Visit the property in person and verify ownership through the City of Boston’s online tax assessment records
- Never provide personal or financial information to unverified sources
- Avoid making payments with cash, prepaid cards, wire transfers (Venmo, CashApp, etc.), or cryptocurrency
If You Have Been Scammed:
- File a police report at your local district station. To locate your area station, visit bpdnews.com
- Report the fraudulent listing to the website where it was posted
- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.ftc.gov and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov
- For additional steps on how to protect yourself after a scam, visit:
Equifax Guide to Rental Scams
FTC: Rental Listing Scams