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07/13/2026

How to spot fake rental listings during a military move

FTC

Whether you’ve been planning a move for months or you’re dealing with last-minute orders, military moves can be both exciting and stressful. The last thing you need is a rental scam to raise that stress level, so here’s how to spot them.

Some scammers make up listings for housing that’s not for rent or doesn’t exist. Others steal pictures from legit listings. They post their fake listings on a different site and grab your attention with below market rent. And since they can’t get into the property (it’s not theirs to rent), they make up excuses for why you can’t see it in person, which could be a sign of a scam.

Another sign of a scam is a “landlord” who says you can only pay for a rental with cash, a gift cardcryptocurrency, or a wire transfer service. If you pay, the scammer will disappear with your money — and you’ll be left with no place to move to

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