R
eal estate professionals are intensifying efforts to eliminate counterfeit rental ads that flood Facebook and Craigslist. Experts estimate that roughly 20 % of Facebook rental listings are fabricated. A Queensbury homeowner discovered in 2018 that her property had been falsely advertised on Craigslist—a problem that has worsened over time. “I’ve owned this house since it was built. It’s never been on the market for rent,” she explained.
Scammers harvest photos and details from homes listed for sale, then repost them as low‑priced rentals to lure renters into paying deposits and revealing sensitive data. Miguel Berger of Property Shield notes that these fraudsters aim for quick deposits and personal information, which they later sell on the dark web. Berger’s firm scans markets for bogus listings, finding that about one in five ads is fraudulent. In January, they identified 663 fake listings out of 4,000 in the Albany area.
Typical red flags include missing addresses, newly created profiles, and a lack of verifiable contact details. Berger highlighted a fake Indianapolis rental that was actually a property for sale. “Notice the profile was created in 2025,” he said. Scammers often target newcomers and those in urgent need of housing, and the removal process can feel like a game of Whack‑a‑Mole, with listings reappearing after deletion.
Some fraudsters impersonate legitimate agents. Anthony Gucciardo of Guicciardo Real Estate Group cautions against using Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for rentals, noting a high likelihood of scams on those platforms. Craigslist advises renters not to send money or personal data to anyone they haven’t met face‑to‑face and recommends viewing the property in person before signing anything. Deposits typically range from $500 to $600, but the real danger lies in handing over banking details and Social Security numbers.
The stress of moving is compounded when the risk of financial loss or identity theft looms. By staying vigilant, verifying listings, and following safe‑renting guidelines, renters can protect themselves from these increasingly sophisticated scams.
