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How to report a rental scam

If you think a listing or message is a scam — or you've already paid — act quickly.

Do this now

  1. Stop sending money and stop sharing documents.
  2. Call your bank straight away and ask them to stop or recall the payment.
  3. Keep everything: screenshots of the ad, chats, phone numbers, payment receipts.
  4. Report the ad to the platform where you saw it.
  5. Report it to the police (see below).

Where to report

United Arab Emirates

  1. If you think you were targeted, report it to Dubai Police (eCrime) and to the platform.

United Kingdom

  1. England, Wales and Northern Ireland: report fraud to Report Fraud (it replaced Action Fraud in Dec 2025) or call 0300 123 2040. Scotland: call Police Scotland on 101.

  2. For free advice on what to do next, contact Citizens Advice.

United States

  1. United States: report it to the FTC — even if you didn't pay. Reports help warn others.

  2. If you lost money online, also file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

  3. You can also report to your state attorney general or consumer protection office.

Europe (Netherlands, Germany, France)

  1. Netherlands: check or report the scam with the Fraudehelpdesk and file a report with the police. The Huurcommissie explains rent rules.

  2. Germany: report it to your state police online (Onlinewache). Police and consumer advice centres publish guidance on rental fraud.

  3. France: report a fake rental ad on THESEE (report, or file a complaint online), and see Cybermalveillance's guidance on rental scams.

  4. Booked a stay in another EU country? The European Consumer Centres network can help with cross-border problems.

India

  1. Lost money? Call 1930 straight away and report on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

  2. Report a suspected fraud call or message on Sanchar Saathi (Chakshu).

Australia

  1. Report the scam to Scamwatch — it helps warn others and take down scam ads.

  2. Lost money or details online? Contact your bank and report the cybercrime through ReportCyber.

  3. Sent ID documents in reply to a suspicious listing? IDCARE offers free identity support.

Anywhere else

  1. Report the ad to the platform where you saw it, and never pay before viewing and a signed contract.

  2. Report it to your local police. For a scam across borders, you can also report to econsumer.gov, run by an international network of consumer-protection agencies.

We don't publish lists of names

Rentalsafe never names or accuses people or companies. We check text for warning signs; we don't decide who is a criminal. That's the job of the police and the courts.

We don't collect reports about people and we don't run a public list of names, numbers or accounts.

Corrections and takedown

If you believe something on this site is wrong or affects you unfairly, contact us and we'll review it promptly.

Contact address coming before launch.

How to report a rental scam · Rentalsafe