I was desperate to find a new apartment. My lease was ending in three weeks, the rental market in Austin was brutal, and every halfway decent listing seemed to disappear within hours of posting. So when I found a beautifully renovated two-bedroom in my target neighborhood, listed at $300 below comparable units, I jumped on it.
The photos were gorgeous: exposed brick, updated kitchen, in-unit laundry, original hardwood floors. The "landlord" responded to my inquiry within minutes, was friendly and professional, and offered to show me the unit that same evening.
Everything felt perfect. Too perfect, as it turned out.
A simple reverse address check revealed what my excitement had blinded me to: the listing was a scam, the "landlord" was a fraud, and I was about to lose several thousand dollars to a scheme that targets desperate renters every single day.
The Too-Good-to-Be-True Listing
Let me walk you through what I saw that made my heart race:
The apartment was in East Austin, one of the hottest rental markets in Texas. A two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit in a renovated historic building with modern amenities. Similar units in the area were listing for $2,400-$2,600 a month. This one? $1,995.
The listing had professional photos, a detailed description, and claimed to offer month-to-month flexibility after an initial six-month lease. The landlord, who said his name was "James," explained that he'd recently inherited the property from his father and wanted to keep it rented to responsible tenants rather than sell.
He was articulate, responsive, and answered all my questions without hesitation. When I asked about a showing, he offered to meet me at the property the next day.
I was ready to write a check. But something made me pause - probably the same instinct that's now telling you this story has a twist coming.
What Made Me Look Twice
Honestly? It was a conversation with my mom. I called her, excited about finding the perfect apartment, and she asked a question that stopped me cold:
"Did you verify that this James person actually owns the property?"
I hadn't. I'd taken his word for it. The listing existed, the photos looked real, he was willing to meet me at the unit - why would I doubt him?
But that question nagged at me. So I did something I should have done immediately: I ran a reverse address check on the property.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost over $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, with rental scams among the most common schemes targeting young adults. I was about to become a statistic.
What the Address Check Revealed
The results came back in seconds, and my heart sank.
The property at that address was owned by a company called Eastside Holdings LLC - not an individual named James. The registered agent for the LLC was based in Delaware, with no obvious connection to anyone who'd recently inherited a property from his father.
Current residents at the address included a woman named Maria Santos and what appeared to be her teenage son. They'd been there for three years, according to utility records.
The property had last sold in 2019 - not recently inherited, as "James" had claimed.
None of this matched the story I'd been told. Not a single detail.
How the Scam Works
I did some digging after my close call, and here's what I learned about how these rental scams operate:
Step 1: Steal a Real Listing
Scammers find legitimate rental or real estate listings and copy the photos and descriptions. Sometimes they use listings from other cities; sometimes they use homes that are for sale, not rent. The goal is to have attractive, professional-looking photos that make the listing seem legitimate.
Step 2: Create a Fake Ad
They post the stolen listing on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or other rental sites, usually at a below-market price to generate immediate interest. The listing might stay up for only a day or two before being taken down - just long enough to hook a few victims.
Step 3: Play the Sympathetic Landlord
The "landlord" has a story: they inherited the property, they're relocating for work, they're overseas and can't show it in person. Whatever the story, it explains why they're eager to rent quickly and might be flexible on terms. Learning to verify property ownership is essential protection against these schemes.
Step 4: Collect Money Without Meeting
In many scam variations, the landlord asks for a deposit or first month's rent before showing the unit - they'll say they need to "confirm you're serious" before making time for a tour. Once they have your money, they disappear.
Step 5: The "Showing" That Isn't
In my case, "James" was actually planning to show me the exterior of the building - he'd schedule the tour for when the real tenants were likely to be out, walk me around the outside, claim the unit was currently occupied by tenants moving out, and ask for a deposit to "hold" the apartment until it was ready.
I'd have handed over money for an apartment that wasn't his to rent, occupied by tenants who had no idea their home was being used as scam bait.
How I Verified My Suspicions
Before confronting "James," I wanted to make sure I wasn't jumping to conclusions. Here's how I confirmed the scam:
Called the Property Management Company
The reverse address check showed the property was managed by a local company. I called them directly and asked about rental availability. They confirmed the unit was occupied with a long-term tenant - no plans to list it for rent anytime soon.
Searched the Photos
A reverse image search on Google showed the same photos appearing in a real estate listing from 2019 - when the property was last sold. The scammer had stolen photos from the original sale listing.
Cross-Referenced the "Landlord"
I searched for "James" at the phone number and email he'd provided. The phone was a burner number with no history; the email was created the same week as the listing. No digital footprint whatsoever.
Every verification step confirmed what the address check had suggested: this was a scam from start to finish.
What Happened Next
I reported the listing to every platform where I found it. I filed a report with the FTC. I even replied to "James" one last time, letting him know I'd figured out his scheme and reported him to authorities.
He never responded. The listing disappeared within hours. And somewhere, I'm sure, he set up shop again with a different name, a different story, and a different stolen listing.
I eventually found a legitimate apartment - one where I verified ownership, met the actual property manager in person, and signed a real lease. It cost more than the scam listing, but it was real. And I learned a lesson I'll never forget about verifying who really owns a property before sending any money.
How to Protect Yourself
If you're apartment hunting, here's my hard-won advice:
Always Verify Ownership
Before you get emotionally invested in a listing, run a reverse address check. Confirm that the person claiming to be the landlord actually has a connection to the property. Our guide on property lookup can help you understand what to look for.
Be Suspicious of Below-Market Pricing
If a listing seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers use attractive prices to create urgency and override your skepticism.
Never Pay Before Seeing
No legitimate landlord will ask for money before you've toured the unit and met in person. If someone asks for deposits, application fees, or rent payments before showing you the property, walk away.
Verify with Third Parties
Don't rely solely on information the "landlord" provides. Look up the property management company independently, call them directly, and confirm the listing is legitimate.
Search the Photos
Drag listing photos into Google's reverse image search. If they appear on other sites - especially real estate sale listings - that's a red flag.
Trust Your Instincts
If something feels off - too eager, too good, too convenient - pay attention to that feeling. It's often right.
The Cost of Not Checking
I was lucky. A simple phone call from my mom made me pause long enough to do a five-minute verification that saved me from losing thousands of dollars.
Not everyone is so fortunate. Rental scams steal millions of dollars from victims every year, often from people who can least afford to lose that money. The desperation of housing searches makes us vulnerable to promises that seem too good to pass up.
A reverse address check takes five minutes. It costs less than a cup of coffee. And it can reveal whether the person offering you a deal is legitimate or a fraud.
That's five minutes well spent.