Fake Landlord Scams on Instagram
Instagram accounts presenting as property managers or individual landlords post rental property photos to attract tenants, then collect security deposits for properties they have no authority to rent.
Part of: Fake Landlord Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
While Instagram is not a primary rental marketplace, it is used by an increasing number of legitimate short-term and medium-term rental operators to showcase properties and attract direct bookings. Fraudulent landlords exploit this legitimate trend by creating similar-looking accounts and directing prospective tenants toward off-platform payment before any formal lease or ownership verification is completed.
Students relocating for study, young professionals moving to a new city, and travellers seeking longer-term accommodation are common targets for Instagram-based landlord fraud because these groups are comfortable transacting through social media and may not have prior experience verifying a landlord's ownership credentials.
How this scam works on Instagram
An Instagram account shows professionally photographed images of furnished apartments or houses, with captions referencing a specific city or neighbourhood and indicating availability. Interested renters who DM the account are taken through an apparent application process involving personal details, references, and ultimately a deposit payment to secure the tenancy.
The account owner is either not the genuine property owner or is collecting deposits from multiple applicants simultaneously for the same unit. On the agreed move-in date, access is not provided and the operator is unreachable through the Instagram account.
Common red flags
- Account posts rental properties but has no verifiable property management company affiliation
- Landlord confirms a tenancy and requests a deposit without providing a formal lease or ownership documentation
- Deposit payment is directed to a personal bank transfer or cryptocurrency
- Account was created recently despite claiming an established rental portfolio
- Landlord cannot provide a land registry entry confirming their ownership of the listed property
How to protect yourself
- Verify the property owner's identity through the land registry before signing any lease or paying a deposit
- Meet the landlord in person and inspect the property before any financial commitment
- Pay deposits only into a government-registered deposit protection scheme
- Request a formal, signed lease agreement before making any payment
- Never accept a rental based solely on Instagram communication without independent ownership verification
How to report it
- Report the Instagram account using the 'Report' function, selecting 'Fraud or scam'
- File a complaint with your national consumer protection or housing authority
- Contact local police if the landlord appears to have collected deposits from multiple applicants for the same property
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a landlord to ask for a deposit through Instagram?
Legitimate landlords may use Instagram to market properties, but deposit payments should always go through a formal, traceable channel into a registered deposit protection scheme — not a bank transfer to a personal account requested through a DM. Insist on a signed lease and ownership verification before any payment.