Fake listing alert: Don't fall for any of these rental apartment scams
- 'Bait-and-switch' schemes lure you with photos of one listing and then stick you with another
- Asking for a non-refundable cash deposit before you can see an apartment is a giant red flag
- Watch out especially for phony listings by fake brokers, who take your deposit and disappear
Most apartment scams create a sense of urgency to make you hand over money quickly. That's why it's important to trust your gut and be prepared to walk away.
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Rental apartment scams typically occur when demand is high, and right now, the New York City rental market is red hot. Inventory is low and rents continue to climb to new highs.
If you're among the droves of renters looking to sign a new lease, it's important to identify situations where you might be vulnerable to fake listings or other types of fraud. Most scammers create a sense of urgency by telling you that the apartment won't be available if you wait, leading you to hand over money before you realize something isn't right.
"With how competitive and expensive the rental market has become, a lot of renters are eager to move quickly on anything that looks even remotely affordable, which unfortunately makes them more susceptible to these kinds of schemes," said Amanda Baum, an agent at Corcoran.
She recounted speaking to several renters who lost thousands of dollars. And she discovered that one of her own listings had been duplicated. "So I've seen firsthand how damaging it can be. It highlights the importance of transparency, education, and collaboration with verified professionals," Baum said.
The most common scams are discussed below, along with Brick Underground's best advice on protecting yourself and your money.
[Editor's note: This article was previously published in June 2025. We are presenting it again with updated information for April 2026.]
A fake listing presented by a fake broker
Rental scams often start with a listing that looks entirely legitimate. It's now easy to copy real photos, fabricate agent bios, and repost properties at tempting prices.
In some cases, scammers impersonate landlords or brokers to collect deposits using fake or misleading listings. Others rely on urgency and scarcity. They may say that they "can't show the apartment because tenants are still living there," or that they're "building a waiting list" and require a deposit to hold your place. Both are major red flags.
"Fake rental listings are especially common on social media, where people will take real listings posted by agents, change the description and pricing to make it seem like a great deal, and then attach a fake application link," Baum said, noting that these are often scams designed to collect personal information.
So how do you protect yourself?
Start with the listing itself. Make sure it includes a full, verifiable address—not just a vague location—and cross-check it online. If the price or photos seem unusually attractive, proceed cautiously.
As Gary Malin, chief operating officer at The Corcoran Group, put it: "If something is too good to be true, most of the time it isn't."
Next, verify the agent. Confirm they are affiliated with a legitimate brokerage, and take a moment to review the firm's website—outdated listings, broken links, or a thin online presence can all be warning signs. Look at the agent's other listings as well; duplicates or multiple properties tied to the same address may indicate a problem.
"Your own due diligence is obviously very important," Malin said. "You can go on Yelp. You can also ensure the agent doesn't have any complaints filed against them."
Before agreeing to anything, speak with the agent directly. Ask detailed questions about the apartment, lease terms, building, and landlord. A credible professional should be able to answer confidently and transparently.
"If someone intends to scam you, typically the more questions you ask, the quicker they start to back away from you," Malin said.
Finally, meet in person whenever possible and request to see the agent's real estate license, which they are required to carry and should include their photo, brokerage, and issue date. You can also verify their credentials through your state's online registry.
The bottom line: a legitimate rental will stand up to scrutiny. If an agent resists questions, avoids verification, or pressures you for money up front, walk away. These same guidelines apply when looking for a short-term rental.
Bait-and-switch apartment listings
In the most common bait-and-switch scam, someone posts images of a seemingly great apartment, only to show you a different place when you ask to see it in person or get the keys.
You are especially vulnerable to this trick when trying to find a rental before moving to NYC and you can only view places online. It's always best to see a place in person, so if you can't, enlist a family member or friend to do this for you.
You can try to negotiate a clause in the lease to protect yourself from bait-and-switch schemes. Malin suggested language along the lines of "if, for any reason, the representations that were made by the virtual showing are not accurate," you have a certain amount of time to terminate the lease.
Other possible bait-and-switch scenarios involve marketing materials that misrepresent the listing, such as basement apartments that don't meet building codes.
According to Baum, vague or misleading descriptions are ubiquitous. For instance, many listings will say there's "laundry in the building," when in reality, the laundry might be in a neighboring building or in a non-functioning room. Beware, too, that some one- or two-bedroom "flex" units will be advertised as a real two or three bedroom—when, in fact, you would have to add a temporary wall to create a separate bedroom.
"That wall usually comes with an added cost and changes the layout significantly," Baum said. And not all buildings allow these features.
Still another common scam occurs when a broker promises to lease you an apartment but then gives you a sublease for a condo or co-op, which could mean you'd only be able to renew the lease for a limited number of years.
"While great photos are important for marketing, they can also be misleading. You want to make sure what you're seeing online actually matches reality," Baum said. "That's why seeing a place in person—or working with someone who has—is so crucial. As agents, it's super easy for us to immediately point out what's edited and what's real, especially if we've also been to the building."
And by all means, read the fine print in the lease agreement before signing the dotted line.
Looking for a rental agent you can trust—and a landlord with a good reputation? Put your search into the capable hands of The Agency, a tech-savvy real estate brokerage that's helped hundreds of Brick Underground readers find their ideal NYC apartments. Bonus: The agents at The Agency are a delight to deal with.
A demand for cash before seeing the unit
Let's say you attend an open house, and the person showing you around asks for a non-refundable cash deposit. That's a huge no-no. Similarly, if you are asked to send money via Venmo, Zelle, or other apps before seeing an apartment, don't do it. No reputable agent or broker in NYC will require payment to show a property—it would be illegal for them to do so.
"If someone is asking you for a cash deposit, they are looking to take your money and move on," Malin said. "If they look like they are pocketing the money, it tells you they are not doing something above board. Put the brakes on."
As of June 2025, the FARE Act eliminated broker fees for agents hired by landlords to market listings. Those owners are now responsible for paying the commission. But if you agree to work with an agent who takes you around to multiple listings, you will likely owe a fee of around 12 percent of the annual rent, due upon signing the lease. Never send money to agents directly. Payment must go through a brokerage.
In addition, an owner can only request the first month's rent and a security deposit, which cannot exceed one month's rent. And rental buildings cannot charge a larger security deposit for pets. That said, you may see additional fees from the board, but not the broker, if you are renting a condo or co-op from an individual owner.
Finally, be aware that your application fee for an apartment is capped at $20. (You can also request copies of your background or credit checks, which the fee covers, to use for applying to other apartments.) So if you see an attractive apartment on Instagram or TikTok, read the caption. If it lists an application fee of more than $20, don't get scammed—keep on scrolling.
Relisting apartments to make them seem new
Watch out for any apartments that have been on and off the market several times. Some brokers will relist a place with a slight modification to the unit number to make it seem newer—for example, switching #A1 to #1A—even though this practice violates the Real Estate Board of New York's policy.
Before viewing a place, familiarize yourself with the typical asking rent in the neighborhood. This way, you can gauge whether the rent is significantly below an area's market rate—and a warning sign that something is not right.
If a listing doesn't include a floor plan, ask to see one—it can provide crucial information before you waste time on a visit. Specifically, ensure it meets the requirements of a legal bedroom: walls that are at least 8 feet long in every direction, and the presence of a window and a door.
Renting a fake sublet
Sometimes, scammers try to sublet a place (either for a weekend or an entire year), collect deposits, and then disappear without a trace.
Current laws prohibit New Yorkers from renting their apartments for fewer than 30 days, unless the owner or leaseholder is present during the stay.
Moreover, many co-ops and condos have a strict no-subletting policy. You'll typically need to submit to a board interview in these buildings. (If not, that could be a warning sign because some owners misrepresent sublets to the board; if caught, however, you're the one who will be out on the street.)
If something seems off about a sublet—and even if it doesn't—you should ask for a copy of the lease from the current tenant (or the building rules if you're renting from an owner in a co-op or condo) to confirm they have the ability to sublet.
Moving company hustles
Finding a new rental inevitably involves moving your belongings—and potentially hiring someone to do the job.
Moving companies also have their own version of a bait-and-switch, which is when a mover offers you a great estimate but jacks up the price during the move, essentially holding your belongings hostage until you agree to fork over more money. Worse still is a "phantom delivery," in which the movers will pack up your stuff, take your money, and disappear.
Even established companies don't always play by the rules. There are also "rogue operators" that place fake ads and reviews on their websites, provide a free estimate over the phone or email, and come in with a lowball offer—and then outsource the work after taking the down payment, leaving you at the mercy of potentially shoddy movers.
As with your broker, research your mover: Get a recommendation from someone you trust, check online reviews, make sure their website has a legitimate address and contact information, and ask for references.
For moves within NYC, check whether they are licensed to operate by the New York State Department of Transportation (for verification, call 800-786-5368). The Better Business Bureau is another good source; you can search for a company by name or see a listing of all accredited movers in the area (you want to see at least an A rating). Any cost estimates should be provided in writing, and you shouldn't pay upfront or make any deposit.
The Attorney General's office recommends obtaining estimates from multiple movers after a physical inspection of your home or apartment. Their guidance also suggests that you ensure the mover provides you with a written "Order for Service" before any items are moved. This document should outline the probable cost of the move and the amount you will need to pay to have your items unloaded if the actual cost exceeds the estimate.
When something just doesn't feel right
In all cases, trust your gut. If anything seems shady, proceed with caution. Do your due diligence before handing over any money or financial information, and listen to your instincts if they tell you to walk away.
If you've stumbled across a suspicious listing on a particular listing site, alert the site's administrators through the help or FAQ sections that cover how to flag questionable listings.
"If you feel uneasy, the best thing to do is put the brakes on and take some time to reflect and maybe go in a different direction," Malin said.
And if you do get scammed, it's essential to take action by filing a police report, allowing the authorities to track and potentially catch the scammers.
—Earlier versions of this article contained reporting and writing by Nikki M. Mascali and Emily Myers. This post was updated for April 2026 by Evelyn Battaglia.
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