Hijacked Listing Scams
When scammers steal real listings and repost them as their own
How This Scam Works
The copy
The scammer finds a legitimate rental listing on a reputable site (Zillow, Realtor.com, Apartments.com) and copies the photos, description, and details — sometimes even the landlord's name.
The repost
The stolen listing is reposted on a different platform (usually Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace) at a slightly lower price to undercut the original and attract more interest.
The impersonation
The scammer poses as the landlord or property manager, using a new email address or phone number. They respond to inquiries and direct victims away from the original listing source.
The double theft
The scammer collects deposits from multiple victims for the same real property. When victims try to move in, they discover the real landlord has no record of them, and their money is gone.
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠Listing appears on Craigslist or Facebook but the same property is also listed on Zillow or Apartments.com by a different contact
- ⚠Price is slightly lower than the same listing on other platforms
- ⚠Landlord's email does not match the contact on the original listing source
- ⚠Landlord discourages you from contacting the property through the 'official' listing
- ⚠Photos match but the contact person or listed agent is different across platforms
- ⚠Landlord cannot answer specific questions about the property that an owner or manager would know
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Check a Listing NowWhat to Do If This Happens to You
- ✓Contact the property through the original listing source (Zillow, Apartments.com, the management company website) to verify the real listing and contact information
- ✓Report the fake listing to the platform it was posted on, with a link to the original legitimate listing
- ✓Alert the real landlord or property manager that their listing has been hijacked
- ✓If you paid the scammer, contact your bank immediately and file a police report
- ✓Search the listing photos on multiple platforms to identify all fraudulent copies