TL;DR: An FTC Data Spotlight found consumers reported more than $65 million in losses to rental and housing scams, where scammers post fake listings for properties they don't own or control to collect deposits from prospective renters.
An FTC Data Spotlight found consumers reported more than $65 million in losses to rental and housing scams, where scammers post fake listings for properties they don't own or control to collect deposits from prospective renters.
What the Data Shows
Because rental scams often copy real listing photos and addresses, the safest check is always to view a property in person or via a live video call with the actual landlord before sending any money.
Why This Matters
Numbers like these are a reminder that this isn’t a rare event — it’s a routine risk. Checking whether your own information has already been exposed takes 30 seconds and costs nothing.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading Robocall Statistics 2026: How Many Scam Calls Americans Get.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Romance Scam Statistics 2026: How Much Victims Lose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the numbers actually show?
An FTC Data Spotlight found consumers reported more than $65 million in losses to rental and housing scams, where scammers post fake listings for properties they don't own or control to collect deposits from prospective renters.
What does this mean for you?
Because rental scams often copy real listing photos and addresses, the safest check is always to view a property in person or via a live video call with the actual landlord before sending any money.
Where does this data come from?
This data is drawn from FTC – Rental Scams Data Spotlight, a primary reporting source for fraud and identity theft data.