Marketplace & rental

Is the Craigslist / Zillow rental listing a scam?

Quick answer

If the landlord is out of town, won't show the property in person, asks for deposit before any in-person contact, or insists on wire/gift card payment — yes, it's a scam. Real landlords show properties before collecting deposits. Always.

Red flags to look for

1
Price is below market for the area
2
Landlord/owner is out of town, abroad, or otherwise unavailable to show
3
Won't let you tour before paying deposit
4
Photos are clearly pulled from another listing (reverse image search to verify)
5
Wants payment via Zelle, Western Union, or gift cards
6
Sob story about why they need to rent quickly

Real examples

Craigslist response email

Hi, the house is still available at $1,200/month. I'm currently working overseas as a missionary, so I can't show it in person. If you send first month + deposit ($2,400) via Zelle, I'll FedEx the keys overnight. The house is yours to inspect first.

Likely Scam

Real landlords never operate this way. Photos are scraped from a real Zillow or Realtor.com listing. The scammer never had access to the property. The Zelle funds vanish; you never get keys.

What to do

Refuse to pay before an in-person tour.
Reverse-image search the photos (Google Lens, TinEye) — you'll often find the real listing on Zillow or Realtor.com.
Look up the property address — verify the owner via public records (most county assessor sites are free).
If you must rent remotely, hire a local agent to verify in person.
Report scam listings on the platform (Craigslist, Facebook, Zillow).

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Why scammers use this approach

Rental scams are extremely high-yield — a single deposit theft can net $2,000-$5,000. The 'out of town landlord' script is decades old and still works because the urgency to find housing overrides skepticism.

Frequently asked questions

What if the listing also appears on Zillow?

Scammers copy real listings. The Zillow version may be legitimate, but the Craigslist version (with a different contact) is fraudulent. Always reach out via the original platform's verified contact.