Rental scams cost thousands of rupees to victims every day. Fake landlords, fraudulent properties, and misleading agreements trap unsuspecting tenants. But with the right knowledge, you can avoid 99% of rental scams.
This guide covers the most common rental scams, how to identify them, and how to protect yourself.
⚠️ Real Problem
According to housing reports, 1 in 10 tenants encounter rental fraud. The average loss is ₹20,000-100,000. Don't be a statistic—follow this guide.
Most Common Rental Scams
1. The "Duplicate Keys" Scam
How It Works:
- Scammer poses as landlord with perfect property at attractive price
- Has keys because he "just received them from contractor" or "managing brother's property"
- Asks you to pay deposit for immediate move-in
- You pay, get keys, move in
- Real landlord arrives 2 weeks later asking why stranger lives in his property
How to Protect:
- Always verify landlord's ownership before paying anything
- Check property deed at municipality office
- Meet original landlord, not "caretaker" or "property manager"
- Verify through zero-brokerage platforms that verify landlord identity
2. The "Photo Fake" Scam
How It Works:
- Scammer posts photos of beautiful property from internet/real property
- Quotes lower-than-market price to attract quickly
- Asks you to pay booking amount "to hold the property"
- After payment, either property doesn't exist or looks completely different
Red Flags:
- Photos are suspiciously perfect (professional real estate photos)
- Reverse image search shows photos used elsewhere
- Landlord can't/won't do video tour
- Price is 20%+ below market rate
How to Verify:
- Use Google Images reverse search—paste photo and search
- If same photos appear on other websites, it's likely fake
- Ask for video tour via WhatsApp call
- Meet in person before any payment
3. The "Advance Without Agreement" Scam
How It Works:
- Landlord asks for advance payment before signing agreement
- Promises "we'll make agreement later"
- After you pay, he disappears or later denies receiving payment
- No written proof = no legal recourse
How to Protect:
- NEVER pay without written agreement signed by both parties
- All payments should be after agreement is signed
- Get receipt for every payment in writing
- Make bank transfers (creates proof) not cash
4. The "Fake Security Check" Scam
How It Works:
- Landlord claims "police verification is needed"
- Asks you to pay ₹2,000-5,000 for verification
- This is actually illegal—police verification is landlord's responsibility and free
How to Protect:
- Police verification is free—landlord must do it
- If asked to pay for verification, it's a scam
- Find different landlord immediately
5. The "Hidden Charges" Scam
How It Works:
- Agreement says ₹20,000 rent
- After moving in, landlord adds surprise charges:
- Maintenance: ₹2,000, Parking: ₹1,000, Electricity/Water: ₹1,500
- Total becomes ₹24,500 instead of ₹20,000
How to Protect:
- Get complete written agreement before signing
- List ALL charges: rent, maintenance, parking, utilities
- Clarify what's included vs. extra
- Don't accept verbal promises of "zero maintenance"
🚫 Never Do This
- Don't pay cash without receipt
- Don't agree verbally without written document
- Don't pay to "reserve" property without seeing it
- Don't ignore gut feeling about landlord
- Don't bypass landlord verification
How to Verify a Landlord is Real
Step 1: Identity Verification
- Ask for government ID (Aadhar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID)
- Match name and photo
- Note down ID numbers (for reference)
- If hesitant about ID, it's a red flag
Step 2: Ownership Verification
- Check property papers: Ask for sale deed copy or title deed
- Municipal records: Go to municipality/corporation office, ask if this person owns the property
- Property tax: Ask to see property tax receipt (shows owner name)
- Society records: If apartment, ask society president to verify owner
Step 3: Contact Verification
- Note down landlord's phone number
- Search the number on Google—does it appear in other property listings?
- If same number used for 20+ properties, it's likely a scammer
- Call from different phone number to verify
Step 4: Previous Tenant References
- Ask landlord for 1-2 previous tenant contact numbers
- Call and ask:
- "Is this landlord fair and honest?"
- "Did he return your deposit on time?"
- "Any issues with him?"
- "Would you rent from him again?"
Step 5: Video Tour
- Ask for WhatsApp video tour showing entire property
- Real landlords will do this happily
- Scammers avoid video tours
- Watch for: furniture placement, decorations, natural light matching photos
✅ Safe Rental Platform Advantage
Platforms like Rentloge verify landlord identity and property details before listing. This eliminates 95% of scams. Use verified platforms when possible.
The Complete Safety Checklist
Before Making Any Payment:
- ☐ Meet landlord in person (not just messages)
- ☐ Verify landlord's identity (government ID)
- ☐ Verify property ownership (deed/tax receipt/society confirmation)
- ☐ Video tour of the property
- ☐ Ask for previous tenant references and verify
- ☐ Have written agreement prepared (use state government template)
- ☐ Clear all terms: rent, deposit, maintenance, parking, utilities
- ☐ Know your rights (read Rent Act for your state)
- ☐ Trust your gut—if something feels off, walk away
Payment Phase:
- ☐ Pay by bank transfer (creates digital proof)
- ☐ Get written receipt for every payment
- ☐ Have agreement SIGNED before moving in
- ☐ Take photos of property condition on move-in
- ☐ Verify all amenities working
- ☐ Get landlord's signature on condition checklist
What to Do If Scammed
Immediate Actions:
- 1. Stop Payment: If debit card/credit card, block it immediately
- 2. Document Everything: Screenshot all messages, save emails, note details
- 3. File Complaint: Go to nearest police station with all evidence
- 4. Bank Notification: Inform your bank about fraudulent transaction
- 5. Cyber Crime Portal: File report at https://cybercrime.gov.in/
- 6. Legal Action: Consult lawyer for civil suit recovery
Documents to Collect:
- All messages/emails with scammer
- Payment proof (bank statement, transaction receipt)
- Photos/screenshots of property listing
- Identity copies if you have them
- Any agreements or documents (even unsigned)
Red Flags: Walk Away Immediately
🚨 Immediate Red Flags
- Landlord refuses to meet in person
- Landlord only communicates via text/email, not calls
- Asking for payment before showing property
- Asking for cash-only payment
- Prices 30%+ below market
- Property listed on multiple websites with different prices
- Landlord claims "emergency" and needs advance today
- Refuses to sign written agreement
- Wants you to pay for verification/paperwork
- Can't provide property ownership proof
- Story keeps changing (wrong dates, inconsistencies)
- Wants advance in cash/cryptocurrency
Safe Rental Tips Summary
💡 Golden Rule
If it feels wrong, it probably is wrong. Your gut instinct is usually correct. Don't ignore red flags for a cheap property.
- ✅ Use verified rental platforms (Rentloge, Housing.com registered brokers)
- ✅ Always verify identity and ownership
- ✅ Get everything in writing
- ✅ Pay by bank transfer only
- ✅ Meet landlord in person before payment
- ✅ Do video tours
- ✅ Get references from previous tenants
- ✅ Keep all receipts and documents
- ✅ Read the agreement carefully
- ✅ Trust your instincts
Conclusion
Most landlords are honest. But rental scams are common enough that you must be careful. By following this guide, you'll avoid 99% of scams and rent safely.
Remember: A good landlord will happily answer all your questions, provide proof of ownership, do video tours, and sign written agreements. If any landlord resists these, find someone else.
✅ Final Thought
Using zero-brokerage platforms with landlord verification built-in (like Rentloge) is your safest bet. They've already done the verification for you, letting you focus on finding the perfect home.