How to Recognize and Avoid Rental Scams

1946674 • June 25, 2025

Key Takeaways

Scammers Often Imitate Legitimate Listings - Rental scammers commonly copy legitimate property ads and repost them with altered contact information or pricing. This deceives prospective tenants and can severely damage the actual landlord’s reputation.

Red Flags Include Unusual Payment Requests and Unrealistic Deals - Common signs of rental scams include requests for advance payments via unconventional methods and pressure to act quickly.

Landlords Can Protect Themselves with Proactive Measures - To prevent being targeted, landlords should regularly monitor and watermark their listings, use secure advertising platforms. Partnering with a reputable property management company can also provide added protection.

_______________________________________________

When advertising your rental property using online platforms, you’re able to reach a wider pool of prospective tenant. In turn, you are able to maximize your chances of landing the right tenant to fill your rental property.

Get in Touch!

That said, however welcome this opportunity has been, it hasn’t been without its challenges. Scammers are drawn to the rental advertising space, and this has had a significant impact on the affected landlord’s reputation. Fortunately for you, in today’s blog, we at American Heritage Properties will walk you through expert tips on how to recognize and avoid rental scams.

a bunch of house figurines with one in red with the word scam on it

How can You Recognize Rental Scams?

To know how to avoid a rental scam, the first thing to do is to know how to recognize it in the first place. Here are the general phases of a rental scam:

The Scammer has Copied Your Rental Ad

It’s every landlord’s dream to fill a vacancy quickly. After a tenant leaves, you’ll want to create a rental ad and syndicate it far and wide to maximize your chances of landing the right tenant. For this reason, you’ll use a combination of both offline and online marketing tactics. Scammers, however, are now copying legitimate online rental listings and passing them off as their own. The danger in this is it takes money away from interested and willing tenants and hurts the actual landlords reputation in the process.

The Scammer Requests an Advance Payment from Tenants

Once an unsuspecting prospective tenant initiates a conversation, the scammer will pose as the landlord. They will answer the tenant’s inquiries, such as where the property is located, the monthly rent amount, and the amenities the property comes with. The scammer will then likely ask for an advance payment. More often than not, they will claim that the advance payment is to help secure the unit. This could be in the form of first and last month’s rent.

a stack of one hundred dollar bills and a lock on top of a homes blue print

To make the deal enticing, the scammer will usually discount the rent amount. For example, if the prevailing rent amount in the area is $1,500, they can price it at $1,000 or even less. The tenant, thinking they are getting a great deal, may quickly send the money to seal the deal. Also important to note is that scammers will often use unusual payment gateways to make it harder to track the payments. Both landlords and tenants need to be aware of the practices to protect themselves.

Speak with Our Team!

The Scammer will Cease All Further Communication

After the scam is successful, the scammer will usually go silent. They will deactivate their phone number or even block the prospective tenant altogether. This point, the tenant will know they’ve been scammed, however, they may not realize is that it’s an online stranger who has done it. The tenant may then go to social media platforms to talk about the scamming incident that has happened to them. They may even caution other San Diego prospective tenants from renting out your property. This can have a significant impact on your reputation, even though you had no part in the scam.

Warning Signs of an Online Scam

Online rental scams often follow certain common patterns.

a finger pointing to a red house amidst a number of black ones

Here are some telltale signs:

The scammer asks for a rent amount that is below the market average. This is to lure an unsuspecting tenant who might think they are getting the unit at a bargain.
The scammer initiates contact out of the blue. For example, via a phone call, email, or even social media.
The scammer creates a sense of urgency. This is to get the prospective resident to pay up quickly before they have time to stop red flags.
The scammer requests that the tenant provide them with their financial or personal details. This can include things like social security number, bank details, or other sensitive information via a phone call or email.
The scammer requests the tenant to send the payment using unconventional methods, such as gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrencies.
The scammer has difficulty providing specific details about the property, lease term, rental policies or local amenities.
The scammer is unwilling to allow you access to the property for a tour.

Learn About Our Services!

How Can You Avoid Rental Scams as a Landlord?

The following are some of the things you can do to protect your property against rental scams.

Be Vigilant - Regularly monitor your listings and report any fraudulent ones. You can also watermarked images to ensure no one else uses them.
Use Secure Platforms - Use reputable online listings that have security features. This will make it harder for scammer to copy your listings.
Be Responsive - Be accessible to tenants and respond to inquires quickly. Open communication and transparency will built trust with prospective tenants.
Set Accurate Prices - Price your rentals accurately. Pricing them too high will deter tenants but if it’s too low this can leave tenants wary. Accurate and competitive prices will allow you to maximize earnings while attracting qualified tenants.
Hire a Property Manager - Work with a reputable property management company. They’ll be able to not only market your property and protect you from scammers, managers can also handle all the day-to-day management tasks on your behalf.

Bottom Line

If your property is used in an online scam, you risk reputation damage. Consequently, you may have a hard time filling the vacancy, thereby incurring costly vacancy costs. Luckily for you, working with a reputable property manager can help safeguard your property against potential scams. At American Heritage Properties, we can help address all your specific needs for minimal stress and maximum ROI. Our specialty is in providing property owners with full-service property management solutions. Get in touch to learn more!

< Older Post

Share this post

From Landlord to Defendant: How Ignoring Rental Laws Turns Profit into Pitfall

By 1946674 • June 25, 2025

You wouldn’t perform surgery without going to med school, right? Running rental properties in 2025 without staying on top of housing law is pretty much the same kind of gamble. The difference is that the scalpel here is your livelihood—and if you slip, it’s your name on the lawsuit, your wallet that bleeds, and your business that tanks. It’s easy to think rental laws are static background noise, but they’re more like a rolling thunder that can break wide open with a single legislative vote. And lately, the storm’s been gathering. Eviction Rules Aren’t What They Used to Be If you’re still operating on the assumption that you can remove a tenant with a simple 30-day notice, it’s time to update your playbook. Cities and states across the country have reworked their eviction rules with laser focus on tenant protections. In some places, you now need just cause to terminate a lease—even at the end of its term. Others require mediation before a single notice can be posted on a tenant’s door. These new rules can delay vacancies, interrupt cash flow, and expose you to fines if you don’t play by the letter. Missing one line on a notice? That’s grounds for dismissal of your case. Multiply that by multiple units and you start to understand the stakes. Zoning Adjustments Are Changing the Game It’s not just what you do with your property—it’s whether you’re even allowed to do it. Zoning laws are morphing faster than many landlords realize. Single-family homes are being rezoned for multi-units. Short-term rental restrictions are clamping down in urban areas. Some cities are even pushing mandatory mixed-income developments. These shifts aren’t theoretical; they can instantly turn a profitable investment into a paperweight. You need to know when your area is holding planning meetings and who’s drawing up those maps. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with a building the law doesn’t know what to do with anymore. Keeping Legal Documents Streamlined Amid Shifting Laws When laws change, your paperwork needs to change with it—and fast. Landlords and property managers who stay organized in this evolving landscape usually rely on systems that treat documents as living files rather than static archives. Instead of rebuilding lease agreements or legal notices from the ground up, smart operators use tools that let them add pages to existing PDFs, making updates seamless and traceable ( check this out ). This kind of flexibility turns a potential compliance headache into a manageable, routine update. Safety Compliance Isn’t a Checkbox Gone are the days when a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector meant you were covered. Safety regulations now include detailed accessibility guidelines, upgraded HVAC mandates, seismic retrofitting, and environmentally safe materials in some states. And these aren’t just best practices—they’re enforceable standards. Slip up, and you’ll find yourself neck-deep in penalties, inspection failures, or worse: a lawsuit from a tenant who slipped on a non-compliant stairwell. Every new legislative session brings tweaks to these codes , and your profitability hinges on more than collecting rent—it’s staying ahead of these ever-tightening rules. Federal Shifts Influence Local Reality Federal housing laws may seem like background noise until you realize they often serve as templates for state and local ordinances. The Fair Housing Act, for instance, continues to expand its definitions of discrimination, and enforcement actions are on the rise. Meanwhile, HUD funding decisions trickle down to influence rent caps , Section 8 program rules, and local landlord registries. If you’re not tracking these federal-level movements, you’ll find yourself reacting to laws that were in the pipeline months ago. And in this business, reacting is just a polite way of saying “scrambling.” Tenant Rights Keep Expanding It’s not just eviction protection that’s evolving—tenant rights in general are in full bloom. From privacy rules to regulations about how often and under what conditions you can enter a unit, the legal landscape is moving toward empowering renters. There are new rules about appliance repairs, mold remediation, and even limits on security deposit deductions. If you’re not up to date, you risk violating these rights without even realizing it. And in today’s digital age, all it takes is one savvy tenant with a smartphone to turn your ignorance into a viral TikTok—and a public relations disaster. Your Liability Is on the Line Let’s talk risk. Every law you don’t know is a lawsuit you didn’t see coming. Tenants have more access than ever to legal aid, tenants' unions, and social media support. Meanwhile, insurance policies increasingly exclude coverage for noncompliance with known regulations. That means one overlooked rule could leave you holding the bag —not your insurer. Protecting your investment today isn’t just about asset management. It’s legal hygiene. And the cost of getting it wrong isn’t just legal fees. It’s lost tenants, damaged reputations, and the kind of stress no one gets into this business for. Reputable Property Managers Are Your Legal Lifeline If this all sounds like a full-time job, that’s because it is. That’s where professional property managers earn their keep. Take American Heritage Properties , for example—a group that’s been managing rental properties in San Diego since 1981. These folks don’t just collect rent and coordinate plumbing repairs. They’re constantly monitoring legal developments and implementing compliant practices before the ink even dries on new legislation. Working with someone like that means you’re not just outsourcing tasks; you’re insulating your business from legal whiplash. And that kind of insurance? It’s priceless. Knowledge Is Profit in Disguise Staying informed about housing laws isn’t just a chore to check off your list—it’s a strategic advantage. When you know what’s coming down the legal pipeline, you can budget for repairs, adjust lease terms, plan tenant communications, and avoid costly missteps. You also get the peace of mind that comes from knowing your investment isn’t sitting on a ticking time bomb. Being proactive here doesn’t just protect your wallet—it protects your sanity. Running rental property in 2025 isn’t about doing what you did in 2015. The rules have changed. The risks have grown. And the smartest investors aren’t the ones who know the best paint color for a kitchen—they’re the ones who know what law passed last month in their city council. If you’re in the game for the long haul, treat legal literacy like part of your business model. Because when it comes to real estate, what you don’t know can—and will—hurt you. Discover unparalleled property management services with American Heritage Properties , where our dedicated team ensures your San Diego investment thrives with quality tenants and exceptional care.

Encouraging Tenant to Submit Maintenance Requests

How to Encourage Tenants to Report Repairs Promptly

By 1946674 • May 20, 2025

Are you having trouble encouraging tenants to report repairs in a timely manner? Here are some tips to help landlords!

Why Small Business Owners Should Own Rental Property

By 1946674 • May 13, 2025

You’ve already built something from scratch, so the idea of managing another venture probably doesn’t scare you. You’re used to weighing risks, making payroll, filing forms at midnight, and doing half a dozen jobs with a fraction of the time. But here’s the part most folks miss: as a small business owner, you’re uniquely positioned to turn rental properties into a second stream of wealth. You already think long-term. You understand cash flow. You know how to pivot, patch, hustle, and scale. And rental properties, unlike your brick-and-mortar shop or service hustle, don’t rely on one market or one set of customers to stay alive. Why Rental Properties? Let’s start simple. Rental real estate offers income stability and long-term growth without tying up all your time—especially once the structure’s in place. Monthly rent checks provide predictability, and you can write off plenty of expenses that help with the bottom line. Think maintenance costs, mortgage interest, even depreciation—yes, seriously, depreciation, it’s a strange gift from the tax gods. The tax advantages for landlords are no small thing, especially when compared with the limited deductions available to many solopreneurs and freelancers. On top of that, residential rentals tend to be more resilient than retail or hospitality spaces during downturns. In short, you’re adding a layer of security without betting the farm. Protecting Yourself and Your Property Rental income sounds great until you’re chasing tenants who vanished without notice or dealing with damage that eats your profit. The fix? A thorough lease that spells everything out in plain language. Security deposits, pet policies, rent grace periods—cover it all. Include clauses for late fees and inspections and get it signed before anyone sets foot inside. For easier execution, consider looking for ways to design PDF layouts . A PDF maker allows you to create or convert any document into a professional format and is key for digital lease handling and sharing. It’s not about being paranoid, it’s about being professional. Cash Flow and Equity Here’s the beauty: over time, someone else pays off your debt. That tenant’s rent covers your mortgage, builds equity, and eventually, boosts your net worth even if the property value never skyrockets. You don’t need a unicorn neighborhood or hot market to win here. You just need stable rent, consistent occupancy, and patience. Properties can build equity over time the way compounding interest works—quietly but powerfully. And if you refinance after a few years of appreciation? You might be able to pull out capital without selling a thing. That’s called leverage, and used wisely, it’s a small business owner's best friend. Operational Efficiency If the idea of handling repairs at 2 a.m. makes your eyelid twitch, don’t worry—technology’s on your side. With modern tools, you can automate rent collection, schedule maintenance, and track expenses without hiring a property manager. There’s an entire cottage industry of property management software options that scale with your portfolio, whether you’ve got one duplex or a dozen doors. Some sync directly with your accounting system. Others let tenants message you, pay digitally, and submit maintenance requests with photos. You don’t need to be techy, just open to systems that save time. And the less you’re involved in the daily grind, the more this becomes passive income in truth, not just on paper. Tenant Screening and Retention Let’s be honest—bad tenants will burn you faster than a busted water heater. Credit scores, references, rental history, background checks—you need the full dossier before you hand over keys. Good tenants pay on time, respect the property, and stick around. And turnover? That’s where your profit dies. Set clear expectations early, then go a step further by checking in periodically, offering renewal incentives, and addressing issues promptly. If you follow the best practices for tenant screening , you’ll protect your investment and sanity at the same time. Happy tenants equal stable income—and you already know how important customer loyalty is in business. Scaling Your Portfolio One unit is good, two is better, but scale too fast and things can get messy. Start with a plan. Decide if you want to stick to your zip code or expand statewide. Factor in local property taxes, vacancy rates, and school districts. Once you get the hang of it, though, things get exciting. You can refinance one place to fund the next, bundle multiple units under one LLC, and diversify across neighborhoods or property types. There are strategies for scaling rental investments that mirror the way successful entrepreneurs grow any business—systematically, not emotionally. Hiring a Property Management Company Bringing in a property management company can free you from the daily grind of leasing, maintenance, and tenant complaints. These professionals streamline operations, boost tenant satisfaction, and often reduce vacancy time. If you're looking for a solid partner, RentHomes.com offers full-service management built around landlord ease and renter reliability. From listing and screening to repairs and renewals, they handle the headaches while you focus on growth. It’s a simple move that turns your rental into a hands-off, income-producing asset. You already know how to build something from the ground up. You know what it takes to keep it breathing through lean seasons and heavy ones. Rental property, when done right, isn’t a side hustle—it’s a slow-burning wealth engine that works even when you sleep. You won’t need a full pivot, just some smart decisions, solid systems, and a lease that leaves nothing to chance. You’ve bet on yourself before. This time, let someone else help pay the mortgage while your future takes shape. You can discover your dream home today by visiting RentHomes.com and explore a wide range of rental options tailored to your lifestyle!