How to avoid student rental scams

Every year, students lose deposits to rooms that never existed. Scammers copy photos from real listings, advertise them below market price and ask for money before a viewing. The good news: almost every scam follows the same pattern, and a few habits make you very hard to fool.

The classic scam in five steps

1. An attractive room appears at a price well below others in the area.
2. The “landlord” replies quickly with a long, emotional story — usually they are working abroad.
3. They cannot show the room, but promise to post the keys after you pay.
4. They ask for the deposit and first month by money transfer, gift cards or crypto.
5. After payment, they disappear.

Checks that take five minutes

• Compare prices. Look at several listings in the same neighbourhood on AllForStudents. A room 40% cheaper than everything else is a warning sign.
• Reverse image search. Upload the photos to an image search. If they appear on hotel sites or in another city, walk away.
• Live video viewing. Ask the landlord to walk you through the room on a live video call, opening doors and windows. Recorded videos are not enough.
• Verify identity. Ask for the landlord’s full name and check that it matches the contract and, where possible, the property records or agency registration.
• Use safe payment. Never pay by money transfer services to a person you have not met. Pay against a signed contract, and where your country has a deposit protection scheme, make sure it is used.

Keep the conversation on the platform

Scammers often try to move you to WhatsApp or private e-mail right away. Keeping messages on AllForStudents means our moderators can see what happened and act quickly if you report the account.

If something feels wrong

Use the Report button on the listing. If you have already sent money, contact your bank immediately and report it to the police — fast action sometimes allows a payment to be stopped.