Is this rental advert a scam? How can I tell before I pay anything?Beta*

The biggest warning sign is being asked to pay before you have seen the home in person. Scammers copy the photos and details from real adverts, so a fake listing can look genuine. Be wary if the rent is well below similar homes nearby, the landlord says they are abroad and will post the keys, you are pushed to pay quickly to beat other people, or you are asked to pay by bank transfer to a personal account, in cryptocurrency or through a money transfer service. Search for copies of the photos with a reverse image search: the same pictures on another advert, at another address or rent, is a strong sign of a scam. Check that a letting agent belongs to a redress scheme, which every letting agent in England must, and for a small fee the Land Registry will tell you who owns the property. Never pay anything until you have viewed the home and are sure the person you are dealing with has the right to let it.

On this site: Advert photo check · Before you rent

Sources: Which?: 4 ways to spot a rental scamCitizens Advice: check if something might be a scam