We have all come across a listing that looks almost too perfect. A beautiful home, an unbeatable price, and that nagging feeling that something might be off. Trusting that instinct is a good place to start. Learning to spot the signs of a rental scam is one of the most important things you can do when searching for a new place to live.
Hemlane has multiple layers of security in place to protect both owners and tenants, but it is always worth staying vigilant no matter where you are searching. Here are the most reliable ways to tell if a rental listing is legitimate.
If It Seems Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is
Take a close look at the listing. Is the rent noticeably lower than other rentals in the area? Do the photos look professionally staged or pulled from somewhere else? Scammers often make their listings appear more attractive by offering a lot for very little. Trust your gut and always ask yourself whether what you are seeing is realistic for that area and price range.
Watch Out for Pushy or Hard to Reach Owners
If an owner or property manager is pressuring you to move unusually fast, sending strange or unreasonable requests, writing with consistent grammar and spelling errors, or is never available to show you the property in person, take that as a warning sign. Never send any money until you are confident the person is who they claim to be, and do not hesitate to investigate further if something feels off.
Always View the Property Before Sending Any Money
We strongly recommend viewing the property in person and having a fully signed lease in place before making any payments. Scammers frequently post attractive photos hoping you will commit money before ever setting foot in the unit.
If you are relocating and cannot visit in person, there are still steps you can take. Most areas in the US have public databases where you can search by county and address to verify property ownership. You can also ask a friend to visit on your behalf or request that a licensed agent perform a viewing, perhaps even over video call.
If you are working with a property manager, ask them to provide documentation confirming the landlord owns the property before sending anything. A legitimate landlord or property manager will have no issue providing this and allowing you to view the rental before any deposit is made.
Always Pay Through Hemlane
Hemlane offers safe and secure payments through your account to keep your money protected. Our security team performs additional due diligence on any property owner or manager using our payments platform. We will never ask a tenant to send money via wire transfer. Scammers frequently request wire transfers for deposits or rent payments because they are irreversible. You should never pay by wire transfer and should always feel confident before sending any money.
If you believe there is a fraudulent listing on Hemlane, please reach out to security@hemlane.com with the property address and URL.