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before you trust it
Paste a rental advert or listing link. We'll flag suspicious language, unusual pricing, and payment requests before you reply.
3 warning indicators found
- Deposit requested before viewing
- Price notably below the comparison range
- Poster says they are currently abroad
How FlagMyListing Works
Three simple steps to protect yourself from rental scams
Paste Link or Text
Drop a listing URL from Craigslist, Zillow, or any site — or paste the listing text directly. We handle both.
Instant Analysis
Our engine scans 40+ scam patterns, checks pricing against local averages, and evaluates trust signals in seconds.
Get Your Report
See a clear risk score with specific red flags, warnings, and actionable advice to protect yourself.
Source: FTC Data Spotlight, December 2025. Because most fraud is never reported, these figures understate the true scale. More statistics →
What We Detect
Over 40 known scam patterns across 6 categories
Payment Scams
Wire transfers, gift cards, crypto demands, deposits before viewing
Remote Landlord Tricks
"I'm out of the country," offering to mail keys, discouraging property visits
Pressure Tactics
"Act now," "many people interested," artificial urgency and fake deadlines
Identity Theft Setup
Requests for SSN, bank details, or ID photos before you've even viewed the place
Price Manipulation
Listings priced suspiciously below the local average for the area
Listing Red Flags
Missing photos, withheld addresses, vague descriptions, free email contacts
Works Everywhere You Search
Paste a link from 20+ rental platforms across 6 countries
City Scam Guides
Local rent data and city-specific scam patterns across 6 countries
Latest Scam Alerts
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to Protect Yourself From Rental Scams
Rental fraud is both common and expensive. The FTC recorded roughly 65,000 rental scam reports and about $65 million in reported losses between January 2020 and June 2025, with a median loss of $1,000 — and since most fraud is never reported to any agency, the real figure is higher. The most common scams involve fake listings on social platforms and classifieds, where scammers copy photos and descriptions from genuine listings, then pose as the landlord to collect a deposit and first month's rent.
The key warning signs include landlords who claim to be out of the country, listings priced significantly below market rate for the area, requests for wire transfers or gift card payments, pressure to commit quickly without viewing the property, and requests for personal information like Social Security numbers before you've even seen the place.
FlagMyListing was built to solve this problem. Our free scam detection tool analyzes rental listings for over 40 known scam patterns, compares prices against local market data, and gives you a clear risk assessment before you engage with any landlord. Simply paste a listing URL or text into our checker to get an instant scam report.