It is important to know the average rental costs for the neighborhood. Unusually low rent is a potential sign of a scam. View Boston rental costs by neighborhood.

This is the best way to confirm the apartment exists! See the apartment in-person, send a proxy, or do a live virtual tour. Scammers will avoid tours as they do not have a property that they will be able to show. Also, use the helpful links below to also confirm the apartments is real by verifying it is a registered rental and looking up the owner in public records.

Confirm the realtor office location, phone number, and email and that they are in working order. These should also match the contact info that you have been using to get in touch with the realtor/broker. The links below also can help verify a realtors license. Do not share personal information with any parties until you have confirmed their identity.

Details matter! Inquire about fees, due dates, contact information, and the application process. Scammers will often focus on getting your money and will lack many details of the process or not have an application process at all! Make sure to get everything in writing and use our Lease Genius page to double check the lease. The term “refundable” is almost never included in any part of the process. 

Never wire money or use cash as a deposit or payment for the first and last month’s rent. Wiring money is the same as giving cash; you can’t get a refund, even if you find out the offer was a fraud. Avoid using Western Union, MoneyGram, etc. Use methods that can be tracked and protected.

The most common and safest form of money transfer for deposits is a bank or using a credit card with fraud protection.