Fake Renters Insurance Scam on Facebook Marketplace
Scammers exploit rental listing sites and marketplace groups to push a fake renters insurance requirement on new tenants before they ever see the apartment.
Part of: Fake Renters Insurance Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Renters insurance is a normal part of renting, and a landlord asking a new tenant to carry a policy is usually a legitimate request. That is exactly why the fake version works so well on Facebook Marketplace, where rental listings are plentiful and prospective tenants already expect requests for deposits and paperwork before move-in. Here, a 'landlord' who cannot show the property in person insists on one specific policy, bought through one specific link, from a page built to imitate a real insurer. The distinction that matters: a genuine landlord can require insurance, but never controls where you buy it.
How this scam works on Facebook Marketplace
After agreeing to rent a property advertised on Marketplace, often one priced attractively and unavailable to view in person because the 'landlord' claims to be out of the country, the victim is told that a specific renters insurance policy is mandatory before the lease can be signed. A link is provided to a lookalike insurance page, sometimes branded to resemble a real, well-known insurer, where the victim is asked to pay a premium and provide personal and payment details.
The insurance page is entirely fabricated and controlled by the same person posing as the landlord, meaning the 'policy' does not exist and the payment simply goes straight to the scammer, often on top of a separate fake security deposit already collected for a property that may not even be available to rent, or may not exist at all under that landlord's control.
Common red flags
- A landlord found through Marketplace insists on a specific renters insurance provider via a link they send you
- You cannot view the property in person before being asked to pay for insurance or a deposit
- The landlord claims to be traveling or overseas and unable to meet or show the unit
- The insurance page looks unofficial, has a mismatched domain, or cannot be found through the real insurer's official website
- Payment for the 'policy' is requested via wire transfer, payment app, or gift cards rather than a standard insurance payment portal
- Urgency is used, such as claiming another renter is about to take the unit if you do not pay immediately
How to protect yourself
- Never buy renters insurance through a link sent directly by a landlord; search for and contact insurers independently
- Insist on viewing the property in person or via a live video call with a landlord or agent before paying anything
- Verify the landlord's identity and ownership of the property through public records or a local rental agency
- Choose your own renters insurance provider rather than one dictated by the landlord
- Be suspicious of any rental deal that seems significantly cheaper than comparable local listings
- Report the listing to Facebook Marketplace if any of these signs appear
How to report it
- Report the listing and the account directly through Facebook Marketplace's reporting tool
- Report the incident to your national consumer protection or fraud reporting agency
- If payment was made, contact your bank or payment provider immediately to attempt a reversal
- Report to local police if you paid a deposit or insurance premium for a rental that turned out not to exist
Frequently asked questions
Does Facebook Marketplace refund me if I lose money to this scam?
Marketplace itself doesn't guarantee refunds for money sent directly to another user outside its platform, so protection may depend on the payment method you used and how quickly you report it — contact your bank or payment provider directly to ask about a reversal. It's best to avoid off-platform wire transfers or app payments for anything you haven't verified.
The insurance page looked identical to a real, well-known insurer's site — how do I check it?
Look closely at the web address rather than the page design, since a copied layout is easy to fake but an exact domain match is not. Then call the real insurer using a number from their official website, not one shown on the page you were sent, to confirm the policy actually exists.
Is it normal to pay a deposit before ever seeing the apartment?
No, a legitimate landlord will generally let you view the property in person or via a live video call before asking for any payment, and reputable rental processes rarely require insurance or deposits before that verification. Treat any pressure to pay sight-unseen as a serious warning sign.
Can a landlord legitimately require renters insurance?
Yes, many landlords legitimately require renters insurance as a lease condition, but a legitimate landlord lets you choose your own provider rather than directing you to a specific link they control.
How can I check if a Marketplace rental listing is real?
Search the address on public property records or a local rental listing site, ask to view the unit in person or via live video, and never pay before confirming the landlord's identity.