Absentee-Landlord 'Mail the Deposit' Scam
A 'landlord' who is conveniently out of town lists a great rental and asks you to wire a deposit before viewing — for a place they don't own.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
You find an attractively priced rental whose 'landlord' says they're away (missionary, new job, military) and can't show it, so you must send a deposit or first month's rent to 'hold' it and they'll mail keys. The listing is often copied from a real one; the scammer owns nothing. Once you pay by wire, Zelle, or gift card, they vanish. Legitimate landlords let you tour the unit and don't demand irreversible payment before you see it or sign a real lease.
What it usually looks like
- A below-market rental with an out-of-town 'landlord.'
- Inability to tour the unit in person.
- A demand to wire a deposit to 'hold' it.
- Promises to mail keys after payment.
Common warning signs
- A landlord who can't show the place.
- Payment before viewing or signing.
- Wire/Zelle/gift-card deposits.
- Listings copied from elsewhere.
Example wording scammers use
“I'm on a mission trip, so I can't show it, but it's yours if you wire the $1,800 deposit today and I'll mail the keys.”
“Send first month and deposit via Zelle to reserve it before others do.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- An irreversible deposit for a place they don't own.
- To exploit a hot rental market.
- Your personal details.
What to do
- Never pay before touring the unit and verifying the owner.
- Confirm ownership via public property records.
- Avoid wire/Zelle/gift-card deposits to unmet landlords.
- Search the listing text/photos for reuse.
What to do if you already responded
- Contact your bank/payment app immediately to try to stop it.
- Report to the listing platform.
- Report to ic3.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov.