Rental Listing Scams in Italy
Fraudulent apartment and holiday rental listings on Italian portals extract deposits from tenants who never receive keys or access.
Part of: Rental Listing Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Italy's competitive rental market — particularly in Milan, Rome, Florence and Bologna — creates ideal conditions for rental fraud. Scammers post attractive listings on Idealista, Immobiliare.it and international platforms like Airbnb at below-market prices, targeting students, expats and short-term tourists.
Victims are told the landlord is abroad (commonly described as working in the UK or Switzerland) and asked to pay a 'caparra confirmatoria' (security deposit) via bank transfer or cash to receive keys. After payment, the listing disappears and contact ceases.
How this scam works on Italy
Listings typically feature real photos scraped from legitimate estate agent websites or prior legitimate listings. The 'landlord' communicates in reasonable Italian or English and provides plausible documentation including a fake 'contratto di locazione' (tenancy agreement).
Payment is requested outside the platform — via SEPA transfer to a foreign account or via gift cards. Student victims in university cities such as Bologna, Pavia or Pisa are especially targeted in August and September when demand for student housing peaks.
In some variants, fraudsters ask for the first month's rent plus two months' deposit and only then claim a bureaucratic delay prevents key handover, requesting further payments to resolve it.
Common red flags
- Rent price significantly below market rate for the area
- Landlord claims to be abroad and cannot show the property in person
- Request for payment via bank transfer before any in-person meeting
- Contract sent by email only — no notarised or agency-stamped copy
- Photos appear on multiple different listings or reverse-image searches show other locations
- Urgency — told several other tenants are interested and you must pay today
How to protect yourself
- Always visit the property in person and confirm the person handing over keys owns it
- Check property ownership through the Italian Catasto (land registry) via agenziaentrate.gov.it
- Use a licensed estate agent ('agente immobiliare') registered with the chamber of commerce
- Pay any deposit through traceable Italian bank transfer only after signing a legally valid contract
- Request a copy of the owner's 'atto di provenienza' (proof of ownership)
How to report it
- Polizia Postale: commissariatodips.it — report rental fraud online
- Local Questura (police station): file a formal 'denuncia' in person
- Platform fraud team: report the listing directly to Idealista or Immobiliare.it
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to rent an apartment in Italy through online platforms?
Reputable platforms are generally safe if you insist on in-person viewings and use official payment channels. Avoid any landlord who refuses to meet in person or requests advance payment via untrackable methods.