Facebook Marketplace Rental Scams: How To Avoid Getting Scammed

It pays to be hypervigilant when it comes to rental listings. As the renter, you have every right to get adequate information to make an informed decision.

Here are some tips to avoid these scams:

Do a reverse image search

First, verify images on Facebook Marketplace by using a reverse image search through Google. To do this, just left-click on the image and choose “Search image with Google.” This opens a new tab displaying where else the image has been used. Click on the images to view the people who have similar listings.

Scammers doing ad hijacking often grab pictures from real estate company websites. Therefore, a link to the company will also pop up. You can contact them to know if the person you are transacting with is legitimate.

Be aware that photo fraudsters often crop or blur watermarks on photos. When you perform a reverse image search, you’ll see the original pictures with complete watermarks.

Identity verification

It is not enough to trust the name of the agent or broker. You should verify their legal identity by asking for a valid ID. However, since IDs can be faked and provide too much sensitive information, goConfirm has provided a solution in the form of digital IDs.

Users can create a ConfirmID using a government-issued ID for identity verification. We use Persona, a trusted identity verification service, to ensure the authenticity of the information provided. Once you’ve created your ConfirmID, you can use this to share your identity and prove you’re a real person.

Rentees with ConfirmIDs can send invitations to the people they are in contact with and ask them to create a ConfirmID, too. This should allow both of you to verify the legitimacy of your identities.

If they are claiming to be a part of an agency, do your due diligence and look for an official site. You can contact or email the agency to verify if the person you are talking to is actually affiliated with them. Also, ask the person to show you their real estate card or broker licenses.

If you are renting a service, you can ask for their business permits. Small-time swindlers typically don’t bother with fake permits since legitimate businesses are publicly registered. As such, you can verify their legitimacy by checking the government website of the province where they registered their business and looking up their name.

Rental scammers will also either redirect you to check their Facebook page or block you when you request to see the permits.

Check for similar listings

Next, explore similar listings suggested at the bottom of the listing/item page. Message individuals with listings featuring identical pictures and data. This way, you can discern which listing is legitimate.

Scammers churn out numerous new listings daily on Facebook Marketplace, ensuring their posts are often at the top. For safety, contact everyone with the same listing to identify the legitimate agent (if there is one).

While reaching out to many people with the same listing might be a bit of work, the effort pays off by safeguarding your lease transactions.

Search for the address

If the agent provided the address of the unit, search for it. You can use Google Maps and Street View to see the properties. This helps you confirm if the lease really even exists.

Legitimate brokers or agents always share the address of their lease units. They will even send you links to view the property online in real-time, even if you did not ask for it.

Of course, there are swindlers who also share the addresses of the lease unit. This applies to cases of ad and service hijacking. To verify, use other listing sites (like realtor.com). These sites don’t allow multiple listings of the same property and display details like listing agents, broker companies, and real estate agencies. If the person you’re communicating with isn’t the listed agent, consider it a red flag.

Request a property viewing from the seller

If you are going to rent a service or a product, we at goConfirm put great emphasis on needing to set up a meeting in person. This way, you can see the rentals truly exist.

Swindlers will almost immediately deny any viewing. They can come up with excuses like they are out of the country or indisposed. However, they will still urge you to pay a deposit without seeing the lease.

Moreover, legitimate lease dealings will require you to have a real-life meeting with an agent. This is done so they can show you the building and amenities. This meeting is where they also discuss the regulations of the building and their proposed leasing terms.

Of course, there are legitimate agents who are overbooked with property viewings. These people can provide virtual tours of the place, especially if you live far from it. However, it is still best for you to see the property yourself. You should never have to insist on this with the agent. Real sellers will still find the time to show you the lease, even if there is a waitlist.

Never sign a lease agreement without seeing the rental.

Do not use non-standard payment methods

We’ve mentioned this before, but we have to emphasize it again. It is tempting to pay the deposit with non-traditional yet extremely convenient payment methods like cash or wire transfers, but don’t. Always opt for standard remittance methods. This can be credit card, check, or debit payments. This way, your bank or card company can track your payments.

When making payments via checks, avoid using cashier’s checks. These can be deposited by anyone. Only issue checks specifically addressed to individuals or entities, such as the unit owner’s name or the broker’s company.

The recipient should also never be the name of the listing agent. It is a huge red flag when they ask you to put their name on the check—they are not allowed to do so.

Bank transfers are still a good option. However, if you end up paying a deposit to a scammer, the investigation process takes a long time. The scammer can simply withdraw your deposit and close their account.

Conclusion

Rental decisions should never be rushed, especially when a substantial deposit is involved. A ton of scammers out there will push you to sign that contract and obligate you to pay the deposit.

Reading reviews and testimonials on Facebook Marketplace is not enough; do your due diligence to verify the legitimacy of the rental listing. It is also important to verify the legitimacy of your contact’s identity. goConfirm can simplify this process by creating and sharing government-verified digital identities, which can filter out the bad actors.

FAQs

How do I report Facebook Marketplace scams?

You can report a fraudulent post by opening the scammer’s listing. Tap the button that has three dots on it and select “Report listing.” You can also report the scammer by clicking on “Seller details.” Another window will open, then choose the “Report” button.

What happens when I get scammed on Facebook?

When you get scammed, you can report it with the steps above. Facebook will then periodically update you about the progress of the investigation.

However, they cannot help you if you have already paid the deposit.

They can only provide the investigation report and suggest you seek legal action with the given documentation.

Can a scammer get my information?

Scammers can get your personal data from the public data you provide on Facebook. They may also get your sensitive data by sending you a data sheet. They can tell you you need to fill out all the details to schedule a viewing.