3 Ways to Spot a Zillow Scam (or other listing websites)
- Jul 6, 2016
- 2 min read
Scams have gotten pretty bad on Zillow. It's actually so bad that on the top of every rental listing there is a warning from Zillow informing its users of the risk.
Follow these checks and spot a scammer before they even get your contact information
1. Verify The Property Address:
Copy the property address from the listing into google maps. Does the address google finds match the listing address? Most scams copy listings that are already on Zillow and the scammer will copy the listing to use for themselves. Many scammers will change the address of the property slightly to avoid entering a duplicate listing on the website. For example, the fake listing may have the listing address 123 Raleigh Ct, instead of 123 Raleigh St. That’s only a slight difference from the correct address, but it could be a red flag.
2. Have your agent verify the MLS ID:
The vast majority of listings in my area of Cary, Raleigh, and Apex are listed in the MLS (Multiple Listings Service that agents have exclusive access to). If a property is listed in the MLS it is highly unlikely the lister is running a scam since the property has to be entered into the MLS by a licensed agent. Please be aware the property’s MLS ID could be copied and pasted into a fake Zillow listing. This is where your agent comes in handy. Ask them to see if the rent price in the MLS matches the Zillow listing’s rent price you found. Mismatched prices are a big red flag. Your agent can also get the authentic contact info from the listing in the MLS.
3. Check for Duplicate Listings
Keep searching through Zillow and see if you find any properties with the same pictures as the listing you found. This is a dead giveaway that there is a duplicate listing that should be investigated for a scam. Consider using a Chrome extension that can search by image. A search like this would return results of listings that used the same pictures for a listing (scammers steal images for their own fake listings).
Some scams are easily spotted, others a very sophisticated. Some scammers are foreign and use broken English while others are very smooth typists and tell convincing stories. It’s best to use caution while shopping for a rental home and consult a professional if necessary.
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