Rental Scams Targeting Property Seekers in Australia
Australian rental seekers — particularly in tight metropolitan markets like Sydney and Melbourne — are targeted by fake listings on Domain, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and Flatmates.com.au, losing bond deposits and first-month rent to scammers who never owned the property.
Part of: Holiday Rental Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Australia's highly competitive rental market creates ideal conditions for scammers. In cities where vacancy rates sit below two percent, desperate applicants apply quickly for properties that look too good to be true, fear asking too many questions, and sometimes pay before inspecting — all behaviours that scammers actively cultivate.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Consumer Affairs agencies in each state receive thousands of rental scam reports annually. Bond deposits are the primary target, but some scammers collect multiple applications at the same time, stealing fees from dozens of victims on a single stolen listing.
How this scam works on Australia
Scammers steal legitimate property listings — photos, descriptions, addresses — and re-post them at below-market rents on Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, or even on legitimate portals using fake agent accounts. The landlord or 'property manager' is overseas and cannot arrange an inspection but is willing to post keys once a holding deposit is paid.
Victims are asked to pay a bond (typically four weeks' rent) and first month's rent via bank transfer or cryptocurrency. Once payment is made, communication ceases and the property is found to be legitimately occupied by someone else entirely.
In some cases, the scammer poses as a tenant on share-housing platforms like Flatmates.com.au, collecting application fees from multiple prospective housemates for a room they do not actually control.
Common red flags
- Rental price significantly below current suburb median in a city with tight vacancy rates
- Landlord or agent who cannot facilitate an in-person inspection and claims to be overseas
- Request to pay bond or first month's rent via bank transfer or crypto before signing a lease
- Listing uses photos that appear on other addresses when searched by reverse image
- Pressure to pay quickly because multiple applications have been received
How to protect yourself
- Always inspect a property in person before paying any money
- Verify the listing agent's registration with the state real estate licensing authority
- Cross-check the property address on Domain and realestate.com.au to compare legitimate listings
- Pay bond only through your state's official bond lodgement scheme (e.g., NSW Fair Trading, RTBA Victoria)
- Never pay rent or bond in cash or cryptocurrency to a private landlord before seeing the lease signed
How to report it
- Report to your state's Consumer Affairs or Fair Trading agency
- File a Scamwatch report at scamwatch.gov.au
- Report to the platform the listing appeared on (Domain, Gumtree, Facebook)
Frequently asked questions
Where should I lodge my bond in Australia to keep it safe?
Each state has an official bond authority: NSW Fair Trading (NSW), Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (Vic), RTA (Qld), Consumer Protection (WA), Consumer and Business Services (SA). Lodge directly with the authority — never pay bond to a landlord who claims to hold it themselves.