Rental Scams: 6 Essential Ways Landlords Over 50 Stay Safe
Rental scams don’t only hurt renters. They can also borrow your property, your photos and your good name. The FTC received nearly 65,000 rental scam reports from 2020 through mid-2025, with about $65 million in reported losses and a median loss of $1,000. For landlords over 50, protecting your listing starts with a few simple habits.
Why Rental Scams Matter for Landlords Over 50
Most small rentals are run by everyday owners, not big companies. The 2021 Rental Housing Finance Survey found that individual investors own 70 percent of rental properties with one to four units. Only about 22 percent of those small properties are professionally managed.
That means many owners handle listings, showings and payments on their own, often as part of their rental income in retirement. Scammers count on busy owners not noticing a copied ad until a stranger shows up at the door.
How Do Scammers Use a Real Rental Listing?
The FTC explains that scammers often hijack real listings. They copy the photos and description, swap in their own contact details and repost the ad elsewhere. Others post homes that are for sale, not for rent.
The fake “owner” is often out of town, won’t show the property and pushes for a fast decision. They ask for an application fee, a deposit or first month’s rent, and sometimes collect personal details for identity theft. In the FTC’s latest data, about half of reported rental scams started with a fake Facebook ad.
6 Essential Steps to Protect Your Listing and Tenants
1. Search for your own property online
While your unit is listed, search the address every week. If you find a copy with a different price or contact, report it to the website right away.
2. Use one clear contact and payment message
List one phone number or email and use it everywhere. Add a line such as: “We never ask for payment by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency.” The FTC warns that these payments are like cash and usually can’t be recovered.
3. Always offer a showing
Scammers avoid showings, so make yours part of every listing. If you live far away, a local helper or live video tour works. Our guide to managing a rental property remotely has ideas for local help.
4. Explain your screening process in writing
Tell applicants what you will ask for, when and how. When applicants know your normal steps, a request that looks different is easier to spot.
5. Give tenants one official way to pay
Put your payment method in the lease. Tell tenants you will never change payment instructions by text or email alone, and that they should call you at a number they already know if something looks off.
6. Report scams quickly
Report copied listings to the site where they appear, your local police, your state attorney general and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Scams aimed at older adults take many forms, as this story about a bank impersonation scam shows, so warn family members too.
Make Rent Payments Easy to Recognize With RentFast
One strong defense against rental scams is a payment process your tenants already know and trust. RentFast offers fast rent collection for landlords, real estate investors and property managers, plus flexible rent payment options for tenants.
According to its website, tenants can pay by bank transfer (ACH), debit card or credit card. Each payment request uses its own unique link, tenants get automatic receipts, and owners can see real-time payment status and a searchable, exportable payment history. The site says payments are processed by Stripe and that RentFast does not store card or bank account numbers. Learn more at RentFast, or read our guide to collecting rent online.
Disclosure: RentFast is part of the same family of tools as Seasoneds.
Looking Forward
You can’t stop every scammer from copying a photo. But you can make your real listing, your showings and your payment process easy to recognize. Clear habits protect your tenants, your income and your peace of mind.