Rental Scams on Apartments.com
Apartments.com is a major US rental listing platform owned by CoStar Group, featuring millions of listings from verified property managers and individual landlords. While the platform has stronger verification than classifieds sites, scammers still target renters by impersonating listed properties or redirecting communication off-platform.
Common Scam Types on Apartments.com
Impersonation of Verified Properties
Scammers contact renters who have inquired about legitimate listings on Apartments.com, posing as the property manager through email or text. They offer a special deal or early move-in discount in exchange for an immediate deposit sent to an external payment account.
Duplicate Listing Scams
Fraudsters copy photos and descriptions from real Apartments.com listings and create new listings for the same property under a different contact. Victims who respond to the duplicate listing deal with the scammer instead of the actual property manager.
Fake Move-In Specials
Scam listings advertise aggressive move-in specials like waived deposits or first-month-free deals to generate urgency. When victims rush to secure the deal, they are asked to pay a holding fee or reduced deposit that goes straight to the scammer.
Phishing Through Fake Application Links
The scammer sends victims a link to a fake application portal that closely mimics the Apartments.com interface. Victims enter their Social Security number, bank details, and other personal information that the scammer then uses for identity theft.
What Apartments.com verifies, and what its "verified" badge does not mean
Apartments.com states that it verifies listings submitted directly through its "Add a Property" tool, but it explicitly excludes third-party feeds from that check. This matters because a large share of listings on the network are syndicated in from other sources, and those pass through with far less scrutiny than a listing a manager builds inside the platform.
The company also requires anyone posting a listing to complete an advertising identity verification before the listing goes live, and it runs a separate TransUnion identity check on property managers before they can view your application or collect rent. That means the person collecting your money has usually cleared an identity step. However, Apartments.com is direct about the limits of all this: in its own words, it "cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of listings." Treat the site as monitored, not guaranteed, and never assume a professional-looking page equals a verified landlord.
Exactly how to report a suspicious listing
Every listing on Apartments.com carries a black flag icon at the bottom labeled "Report an Issue." Clicking it opens a pop-up that lets you flag the listing anonymously, and this is the fastest way to get a suspect page in front of the site's review team. Do this the moment something feels off, even before you are certain, because a flag costs you nothing and speeds removal of listings that are harming other renters.
If you want to speak to a person or your report is urgent, you can also call customer service at 844-293-8899 to review the listing with a representative. Before you report, screenshot the listing, save every message from the person you were dealing with, and record any payment details or account numbers they gave you. If money already changed hands, keep the wire receipt or transfer confirmation, since those details are what let both the platform and your bank act.
What reporting protects, and what it cannot reach
Flagging a listing helps get the fraudulent page taken down and can stop the next renter from being caught, but it is not a recovery mechanism. Apartments.com's verification and monitoring live on its own platform; the moment a supposed landlord pushes you to text, WhatsApp, email, or a wire transfer off the site, none of the platform's checks apply anymore. Scammers do this deliberately, precisely because it moves you outside the system that could catch them.
The platform also cannot get your money back. If you sent funds by wire, gift card, or a cash app, recovery depends on your bank and law enforcement, not Apartments.com, so report to your bank immediately and file with local police and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Use Apartments.com's flag to protect the community and to build a record, but rely on your financial institution and law enforcement for anything involving lost money.
Safety Tips for Apartments.com
- ✓Only communicate through the Apartments.com platform messaging system to maintain a verifiable record.
- ✓Never click external application links sent via email -- always apply through the Apartments.com website directly.
- ✓Verify the property management company's name and phone number independently before paying.
- ✓Be cautious of move-in specials that seem unusually generous compared to similar properties.
- ✓Visit the property in person and confirm the leasing office matches the listing details.
- ✓Check for duplicate listings of the same property with different contact information.
How to Report Scams on Apartments.com
Report suspicious listings by clicking the 'Report this Listing' option on the property page. You can also contact Apartments.com customer support directly.
Report a Scam →Apartments.com Scam Risk Level
Medium RiskApartments.com is rated as medium risk for rental scams. While the platform has some verification measures, scammers still find ways to exploit the system. Always verify listings and landlords independently before paying anything.
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