How to Spot Rental Scams: Top 5 Red Flags

Renting a new place can be exciting, but there's one growing threat that every renter must take seriously: rental scams.

Whether you’re browsing Kijiji, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or even reputable platforms, scammers are constantly creating fake listings to exploit renters — especially those who rent sight unseen. (Spoiler: that’s one of the biggest risks, which we cover in this post).

At Renvfy, our mission is to protect renters by offering safe, remote video tours so you never commit to a rental without seeing it first. Here's how to spot the red flags and protect yourself.

🔍 Top 5 Red Flags That You’re Dealing with a Rental Scam

1. Too Good to Be True Pricing

If a rental price is significantly lower than market value, that’s a classic scam signal. Scammers often use below-market rent as bait.

📌 Example: A 2-bed in downtown Toronto for $1,000/month? Probably fake.

📎 Related Reading: Never Rent Sight Unseen

👉 Compare with tools like Rentals.ca or Zumper.

2. Landlord is "Out of Town"

Scammers often claim they’re abroad and can’t show the unit, but they’ll “mail you the keys” after a deposit. That’s a major red flag.

🎥 Want to see the property first? That’s exactly what Renvfy does — we send an agent to walk through the property and stream it to you live.

3. No Viewing Options

If a landlord refuses in-person or virtual showings, it’s likely a scam. They might say it’s “being renovated” or already rented — but you can still send the deposit! 🚨

💡 Renvfy was created to eliminate this risk entirely — we provide verified live video tours across Canada.

4. Vague Paperwork or None at All

Real landlords have proper documents. Scammers often send sloppy PDFs or skip documents entirely.

🛡 Pro Tip: Request a lease and ownership proof. In Ontario, you can even get land title info via Ontario Land Registry Access.

5. Urgent Payment Requests

“If you don’t pay now, someone else will.” Pressure tactics are a classic red flag. A legitimate rental process gives you time to think, read, and view the space.

📎 Check out our article: Never Rent Sight Unseen — a real story that shows how urgency leads to regret.

✅ Rental Scam Prevention Checklist

Before committing to any rental:

• Compare pricing with local averages

• Request a lease agreement and verify ownership

• Book a live tour via Renvfy

• Reverse image search the listing photos

• Never wire money or use crypto

🧠 Learn more about best practices from trusted sources like CMHC’s Renting Guide.

🛡️ How Renvfy Helps You Avoid Rental Scams

With Renvfy, you don’t just rely on photos or promises — you see the unit yourself through a live video tour hosted by a verified, neutral third party.

💡 Especially useful for:

• Students moving cities

• Professionals relocating for work

• Remote renters who can’t travel for a showing

👉 Book your first live tour and rent with confidence.

🧠 FAQ: Rental Scams in Canada

Q: Are rental scams actually common here?
Yes. According to Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, rental scams are rising each year, particularly in big cities.

Q: What if I already got scammed?

• Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

• Notify your bank immediately

• Collect screenshots, messages, and any fake documents

🏁 Final Thoughts

Renting should feel exciting, not risky. But the reality is that sight-unseen rentals are one of the top ways people fall for scams — which is why we created Renvfy.

With our live video tours, you can see the property for yourself, ask questions in real-time, and walk away with peace of mind — no matter where you’re renting from.

🎥 See the property. Skip the scam.
Start your first remote viewing →