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Facebook Marketplace Rental Scam: When a “For Sale” Home Becomes a Fake “For Rent” Listing

If you’ve been browsing Facebook Marketplace for a rental home lately, you’ve probably seen it — a gorgeous house in a great neighborhood, listed for rent at a price that seems almost too good to be true.

Here’s the problem: in many cases, it is too good to be true.

Scammers are taking homes that are for sale, copying the photos and descriptions from legitimate real estate listings, and reposting them online as fake rentals. They then lure unsuspecting renters into sending deposits or rent payments for a home they will never get to move into.

How the Scam Works

  1. They steal a listing
    Scammers pull pictures and text directly from a real MLS listing — often one that’s vacant — and repost it as “For Rent.”

  2. They list it cheap
    To get attention, they set the rent well below market value.

  3. They pretend to be the owner
    The “owner” is often conveniently out of state or out of the country and can’t meet in person.

  4. They pressure you to pay upfront
    They promise to mail or “overnight” the keys once you send the first month’s rent or a deposit via wire transfer, Zelle, Cash App, or gift cards.

  5. They disappear
    Once you send the money, they’re gone — and you’re left with nothing.

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Rent price is much lower than similar homes in the area.

  • The “owner” can’t meet in person or show the property.

  • They want payment before you’ve seen the inside of the home.

  • They refuse to go through a property management company or agent.

  • The same address is showing up online as a home for sale, not for rent.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Search the address — if it’s listed on Zillow, Realtor.com, or MLS as “for sale,” be cautious.

  • Never send money without seeing the property in person.

  • Work with a licensed real estate agent or verified property manager.

  • Report suspicious listings to Facebook and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The rental market is competitive, and scammers are counting on people moving fast without doing their homework. Take the extra time to verify before you hand over your hard-earned money.

Stay safe out there — and if you’re ever unsure, reach out to a local real estate professional (like me!) who can help confirm whether a listing is legitimate. 

Love,
Nicolle

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