How To Report a Rental Scam or Fraud

File a Government Report

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Submit a detailed report online at FTC Report Fraud or call 1-877-382-4357. The FTC tracks scam patterns and shares data with thousands of law enforcement agencies.
• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): If the scam occurred online via email, fake websites, or social media, file a cybercrime complaint through the FBI IC3 Website.
• International Scams: If the "landlord" claims to be overseas, log the incident at econsumer.gov to alert international consumer protection offices.

Contact Local Authorities

• Local Police Department: Call your local police non-emergency line to file a report, especially if you lost money, handed over sensitive personal data, or met the scammer in person.
• State Attorney General: Report the incident to your state’s consumer protection office through their official government website to trigger state-level investigations.

Flag the Listing Platform

Report the fraudulent ad to the website or app where you first encountered it so they can permanently remove it:

• Zillow / Trulia / HotPads: Navigate to the specific listing, click "Report Listing," and select "Fraud/Scam".
• Craigslist: Click the "prohibited" or "flag" link at the top of the posting.
• Facebook Marketplace: Click the three dots on the listing, choose "Report Listing," and select "Scam."
• Google Forms: If the scammer used a Google Form to steal your data, use the Google Business Redressal Complaint Form or report the abuse directly through Google's reporting channels.

Protect Your Financial Accounts

• Contact Your Bank: If you paid via wire transfer, cashier's check, or app, immediately call your bank or the app's fraud department (e.g., Venmo, Zelle) to attempt to freeze or dispute the transaction.
• Freeze Credit: If you shared your Social Security number or date of birth on a fake application, visit Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to freeze your credit files.