Is rental fraud targeting international students common?
Yes. International students — often searching for housing remotely from abroad before arriving — are prime targets for fake rental listings and advance-fee property fraud.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Explanation
International students face a uniquely high risk from rental scams because they are often searching from overseas, unfamiliar with local housing markets, on tight budgets, and under time pressure before term starts. Scammers post compelling listings at just-below-market prices, insist on a 'holding deposit' by bank transfer, and either disappear or continue extracting money with invented fees until the student arrives and discovers the property was never available or does not exist.
The extraction often continues past the first deposit precisely because the student cannot check anything until arrival: after the 'holding deposit' come key-release fees, cleaning charges, extra months of advance rent, and refundable 'insurance' — each small enough to pay rather than lose the property. Some scammers copy real estate agent listings and pose as private landlords; others impersonate accommodation pages in student social media groups, where a shared university connection creates unearned trust.
Students should work through their university's accommodation office or well-known verified letting platforms, and never pay a deposit for a property they have not viewed — even remotely through a verified video call with a trusted person physically present at the address. University international offices deal with this fraud every intake and can sanity-check a listing quickly, so asking before paying costs nothing. If the timeline is forcing a decision, temporary university housing or a short-term verified booking on arrival is always cheaper than a lost deposit and nowhere to live.
Common red flags
- Landlord will not permit a viewing, citing distance or tenant occupation
- Price is below comparable rentals in the same area
- Payment required before arrival, with no opportunity to verify the property
- Communication moves to WhatsApp or personal email quickly
What to do now
- Use your university's official accommodation portal or verified letting agents
- Never pay a deposit without a viewing — even a third-party in-person visit helps
- Ask your university's international student office for housing fraud guidance
- Report any fake listing to the platform and your national fraud service
Frequently asked questions
Can I arrange for someone local to verify a property before I pay?
Yes — asking a current student, a university welfare officer, or a professional service to physically visit and video-call from the property is an effective way to verify it exists before paying.
The landlord was recommended in my university's student Facebook group. Is that safe?
Not by itself. Scammers join student groups specifically to post listings and fake vouches, and group admins rarely verify anyone. Treat group posts as leads to verify through the university accommodation office, not as endorsements.
What if I arrive with nowhere to live because a listing was fake?
Contact your university's international or accommodation office immediately — most hold emergency or short-term housing options for exactly this situation. Then report the fraud to the platform and police so the listing is taken down.