How students can avoid rental scams
Every September, scammers post fake listings aimed squarely at students who are panicking about not having a place. International and first-year students get hit hardest. None of it works if you know the red flags.
The red flags
- Rent that's too good. A furnished room way under the going rate is the oldest bait there is.
- “I'm out of the country, just e-transfer the deposit.” If you can't see the unit and the “landlord” can never meet, walk away.
- Pressure to pay right now. “Three other people want it, send the deposit to hold it tonight.” Urgency is the scammer's favourite tool.
- No lease, or a vague one. Real landlords have paperwork.
- Photos that look like stock images. Run the listing photos through a reverse image search. Scammers reuse them constantly.
- Payment by gift card or crypto. Never. This one is always a scam.
The rules that protect you
- Never pay before you see it. See the unit in person, or send a trusted local to view it. No viewing, no money.
- Meet in person first, ideally somewhere public for the initial chat.
- Get everything in writing. Rent, term, what's included, the deposit amount, move-in date. All of it.
- Use traceable payment and keep records.
- Trust your gut. If something feels off, it usually is.
Why verification changes the math
Most scams run on anonymity. Anyone can spin up a Kijiji post or a fake Facebook profile, and that's the gap a verified marketplace closes. On SubSwap, every student is confirmed by school email, and every landlord is checked by our team, including a quick call, before a listing goes live. No anonymous posts, no cold messages. Scammers don't get the cover they need to operate.
If you're subletting from another student
Make sure the person actually has the right to sublet. Under most leases, their own landlord has to consent first. We break down the difference in sublet vs. sublease. A sublet arranged without landlord approval can leave you with no legal standing if things go sideways.
The single rule that stops almost every rental scam: never send money for a place you (or someone you trust) haven't physically stood inside.
Find your place in days, not months.
SubSwap connects verified Atlantic Canadian students for subleases and roommate matching. Free to join with your school email.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a rental listing is a scam?
Watch for below-market rent, a landlord who can never meet in person, pressure to pay a deposit immediately, requests for gift cards or crypto, and reused stock photos. Any one of these is a reason to stop.
Should I pay a deposit before seeing an apartment?
No. Never send money for a place you or someone you trust hasn't seen in person. That one rule stops most rental scams cold.
Are Facebook and Kijiji rentals safe for students?
They can work, but they don't verify who's posting, which is what scammers exploit. A platform that verifies students by school email and reviews landlords removes most of that risk.
What payment methods should I avoid?
Never pay rent or deposits with gift cards or cryptocurrency. That money is unrecoverable, and no real landlord asks for it. Use traceable methods and keep records.