Warning signs to pause for
Scamwatch describes rental scams in which someone advertises a property they do not control, avoids inspections and asks for advance payments or identity documents. Unusually cheap rent, pressure to act immediately and payment details that do not match the claimed recipient should prompt extra checks.
- The advertiser repeatedly invents reasons you cannot inspect.
- You are asked to pay to secure keys before you can verify the home.
- The contact details or bank-account name conflict with the claimed agency.
- A link asks for more identity information than the stated process explains.
Verify through a separate channel
Find the agency’s contact details independently and ask it to confirm the listing and staff member. If someone claims to be an agent, check the relevant state licensing register. For a private landlord, establish their authority to rent the property rather than assuming a real address proves ownership.
Inspect before paying. If you cannot attend, arrange for a trusted person to view it and verify the advertiser. Search the address and images for conflicting listings; a match is a reason to investigate, not proof either way. Keep copies of the advert and correspondence.
Check the request as well as the recipient
Ask what a payment covers, when it is due and what receipt you will receive. Bond and advance rent can be legitimate charges, and holding-payment rules vary. Confirm those rules locally instead of treating every deposit request as a scam.
Before uploading identification, verify the destination and read its privacy information. Ask about permitted alternatives where appropriate. Never share your email password, banking password or one-time security codes with an advertiser.
If you have already paid or shared information
Contact your bank or card provider immediately if money has been sent, explain the suspected scam and ask what can be stopped. Secure any affected accounts. Report the scam to Scamwatch. If money or identity information has been stolen, use ReportCyber and follow the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s recovery guidance for affected accounts and documents.
Keep the listing URL, messages, receipts and transaction details for your reports. If the listing appeared on RIA, send the listing URL and a brief explanation to info@rentinaustralia.com.au; do not email identity documents. RIA cannot guarantee recovery of money or replace a bank or police report.
Before you pay or send documents
0 of 5 checked. Your ticks stay on this page until you leave or reload.
General information for private residential rentals, based on the official sources linked here. Rules can change and different arrangements, including rooming accommodation and social housing, may have different requirements. Check the relevant authority for advice about your situation. Suggest a correction.