Rental Scams on Gumtree
Gumtree's classifieds format attracts fake rental listings — often copied from legitimate sites — where landlords demand advance payments before any property viewing.
Part of: Holiday Rental Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Gumtree is a primary classifieds platform in the UK, Australia, and South Africa, and its rental listings section is a well-documented venue for advance-fee rental fraud. The platform's relatively low barrier to posting and the lack of verified landlord identity checks create an environment where fraudulent listings can remain active long enough to generate multiple victims.
The typical Gumtree rental scam involves a below-market price that attracts large numbers of enquiries, followed by an overseas landlord story that explains why the property cannot be viewed in person and why payment must be sent in advance of key collection.
How this scam works on Gumtree
Scammers copy legitimate rental listings from estate agency websites or other platforms, repost them on Gumtree at a price 15–30% below market rate, and create a new email address to handle enquiries. Interested renters are told the landlord is abroad and cannot arrange a viewing but will send keys after receipt of a holding deposit and first month's rent.
Payment is requested via bank transfer, Western Union, or increasingly cryptocurrency. Once sent, the 'landlord' disappears and the prospective renter discovers the property was never available for rent — it may be legitimately occupied or owned by someone entirely unconnected to the scammer.
In Australia and South Africa, Gumtree rental scams frequently reference furnished properties at below-market rates in desirable suburbs, and the landlord story typically involves a church mission or international work posting to explain remote handling.
Common red flags
- Gumtree listing priced well below comparable local rentals
- Landlord who is abroad and cannot arrange a physical viewing
- Request for holding deposit or first month's rent before you have seen the property
- Payment requested via bank transfer to a personal account, Western Union, or cryptocurrency
- Property photos that appear elsewhere on estate agency websites with different contact details
- Landlord who insists on moving very quickly to secure payment
How to protect yourself
- Never pay any advance rental fee for a property you have not physically visited
- Reverse-image-search the listing photos to identify whether they appear elsewhere
- Call the estate agent or verify the address against Land Registry or equivalent records before paying
- Use Gumtree's internal messaging system rather than switching to private email immediately
- Pay only through traceable payment methods you can dispute — never Western Union or cryptocurrency
How to report it
- Report the listing to Gumtree using the on-page report function
- Report to Action Fraud (UK), Scamwatch (Australia), or your national fraud service
- Contact your bank immediately if a transfer was made
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a Gumtree landlord to ask for payment before a viewing?
No — legitimate landlords and agents almost never ask for a deposit or 'holding fee' before you've viewed the property in person or via a verified video call. A request to pay upfront, especially combined with an excuse like being 'abroad' or 'unable to meet', is one of the strongest rental scam signals. Insist on viewing the property and meeting the landlord or agent before sending any money.
Can I get my deposit back if I paid a Gumtree 'landlord' before viewing the property?
It depends on the payment method and timing — bank transfers are hard to reverse, while some payment services or card providers may allow a dispute if you act quickly. Report the transaction to your bank immediately and explain it was a suspected scam, and report the listing to Gumtree so it can be taken down. File a report with local police or your national fraud reporting service, since these reports help others even if your own funds aren't recovered.
How do I verify a Gumtree rental listing is genuine?
Reverse image search the listing photos — copied listings often turn up on other rental sites under a different agent's name or a different city. Ask to view the property in person or by live video call with the person holding the keys, and verify the landlord's identity against the property's actual registered owner if possible. Be suspicious of prices that are noticeably below market rate, as this is a common lure to generate urgency.
Can a scammer legally rent out a property they do not own?
No. A scammer cannot legally offer a property for rent that they do not own or manage. If you discover you were scammed, report to the police and your bank. The actual property owner is not responsible for the fraudulent listing.