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How do you spot a rental scam in Australia?

The clearest sign is being asked for money before you can see the property. Other signs, how to check an ad and what to do if you have already paid.

Reviewed on 5 Nov 2026 · 5 min read

The clearest sign is that you are asked for money before you can see the property. The Tenants' Union of New South Wales, a tenants' union, treats "I am overseas" as a serious warning. Study Australia adds the rush to pay and the refusal to show the place. Before sending money, check the property and the person.

Warning signs

They are compiled by the Queensland rental authority (RTA) and the Tenants' Union:

  • You cannot see it: there are excuses for not visiting, or you are asked for a deposit first.
  • Way of paying: gift card, cash or cryptocurrency.
  • Very low price: the RTA warns that what seems too good may be fake.
  • Rush: pressure to sign and pay, with no application or selection.
  • No paperwork: they avoid giving you documents, or get annoyed if you ask for ID or the agency's registration.
  • Personal details over social media: they ask for them there.
  • Personal email: someone who claims to be an agency writes from a private address.
  • Bank account: for an agency property, the account is not linked to that agency.
  • Odd photos: they look like catalogue photos, do not match the area or are copied from a real ad.
  • Contract with mistakes: wrong house number or other details that do not match.
  • Application fee or bidding for the rent: in Queensland neither is allowed, and Victoria also bans them.
  • Change of account: an unexpected letter or email asks you to pay the rent into another account.

No single sign proves a scam by itself, but together they are worth stopping for. The Tenants' Union also counts it as a sign if the ad is on sites that are not closely monitored, such as Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree. That does not make every ad on those websites false. Gumtree links to a scam safety centre, which we have not read.

How to check before paying

  1. Look up the address on Google Maps and Street View.
  2. Search for the photos with a reverse image search, and also the text of the ad. A repeated scam often appears in several places.
  3. Verify the person. Contact the agency using the details on its website, not the ones in the ad. Queensland has a register at its Office of Fair Trading, and in New South Wales you check with Service NSW.
  4. Visit it. If you are not in Australia yet, the RTA accepts a video viewing with whoever manages it, and the Tenants' Union suggests sending someone you trust.
  5. Ask for the contract before paying. In Queensland they must give it to you before charging you anything. Check that it has the correct address.
  6. Pay with a method that leaves a trace, such as a credit card or BPAY, and ask for a receipt for each payment.
  7. Check the bond. In New South Wales you can lodge it yourself in Rental Bonds Online. In Queensland, you can do it on the RTA website and you receive confirmation. In Victoria, the receipt arrives within 7 days.

If you come in as a boarder, the bond may not go through the official body. Read how to find a shared room to know what role you have.

What can they really ask for before you move in?

It depends on the state:

  • Queensland: a deposit for the key to view the property, with a receipt and full refund. Also a holding deposit, only with the proposed contract in hand. If no other period is agreed, it holds the property for 48 hours. If you withdraw within the period, it is refunded within 3 days.
  • New South Wales: a holding payment of up to one week of rent, in addition to rent in advance and the bond. They cannot charge for checking your background.
  • Victoria: there is no charge for applying. They also cannot accept offers above the advertised rent or more than one month in advance.

The limits of each state are in bond and rights, and normal prices in how much it costs to rent.

I have already paid: what do I do?

  1. Call your bank as soon as possible. The RTA and the Tenants' Union put it among the first steps.
  2. Keep the evidence: screenshots of the ad, emails, messages and receipts.
  3. Report it. The RTA refers readers to ReportCyber, at cyber.gov.au, and to the police or Policelink, 131 444.
  4. Tell the website where you saw the ad.
  5. Tell the relevant body. If there is an identifiable business in New South Wales, NSW Fair Trading, 13 32 20. If you do not know it, or it is in another state or country, the ACCC Infocentre, 1300 302 502, or Scamwatch. If there is an agency in Queensland, its Office of Fair Trading.
  6. If you sent documents or personal details: IDCARE helps people recover from identity theft and scams. Its line is 1800 595 160, Monday to Friday, and from outside Australia, +61 7 3555 5900. Change your passwords too.

How many scams are there?

We give no figures. We could not check Scamwatch and the ACCC, and we do not put numbers we have not seen.

While you search, you can see how hostels work, and there is information on national companies in services.

Sources

All opened on 5 November 2026.

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This is general information. Always check the official source.

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