Vancouver Rental Scams 2026: Top 5 Tricks to Watch Out For

Rental scams are on the rise in Vancouver in 2026, and thousands of renters lose deposits or personal information every year. If you’re looking for a rental, you need to know exactly what to watch for before sending money.

This guide breaks down the top 5 Vancouver rental scams, shows real warning signs, and explains how to protect yourself from losing your money or personal info.

1. Fake Landlord Deposit Scam

This is the most common scam reported in Vancouver. Scammers pretend to be the landlord of a real unit, often using real photos stolen from past listings or MLS sales pages. Rent is usually slightly below market, creating a sense of urgency.

Once contact is made, the scammer asks for a deposit to hold the unit before a viewing, usually via e-transfer. After the money is sent, they vanish.

Example: In 2025, a Richmond renter lost $1,500 to a fake deposit request on Craigslist.

Red flags to watch:

• Deposit requested before you’ve seen the unit

• Refusal to meet in person

• Pressure to act fast

• E-transfer or gift card payments only

2. Illegal Sublet Posing as a Legitimate Rental

Some renters are lured into signing illegal sublets or fake leases. The person advertising may not have the legal right to rent the unit, or they may be a tenant trying to make extra cash.

The result: Renters move in and later receive eviction notices from the real owner, losing deposits and prepaid rent.

Example: In Vancouver, multiple tenants reported losing deposits after a student rented a room under a fake lease, thinking it was authorized by the landlord.

Red flags:

• No proof of ownership or landlord approval

• Handwritten or vague lease agreements

• Requests for cash-only rent

• Too many unrelated tenants in one property

3. Phantom Listings Using Stolen Photos

Phantom listings are entirely fake units. Scammers steal photos from Airbnb, MLS listings, or other rentals and repost them online.

You may never get a viewing or are given excuses why you can’t enter the unit. Some claim they will mail keys after payment to appear legitimate.

Example: A Vancouver renter responded to a Facebook Marketplace ad using photos of a real unit in Kitsilano, only to find the listing never existed.

Red flags:

• Professional, staged photos

• Rent far below market value

• No unit number or vague address

• Viewing is always delayed or cancelled

4. Credit Check Fee Scam

Scammers sometimes ask renters to pay upfront fees for credit checks or applications before any viewing. They provide fake websites or links that look official but steal money and personal data.

Example: In 2025, a Burnaby renter paid $30 for a “required credit check” online and the listing disappeared the next day.

Red flags:

• Credit check required before a viewing

• Links to unfamiliar websites

• Upfront payment requests

• No phone or in-person contact with the landlord

5. Overpayment and Refund Scam

Scammers sometimes overpay rent or deposit and ask the renter to refund the difference. Later, the original payment bounces, leaving the renter out the refunded money.

Example: A Vancouverite thought they were returning an “accidental overpayment” in 2025, only to lose $2,000 when the original transaction was fraudulent.

Red flags:

• Unexpected overpayments

• Urgent refund requests

• Complicated explanations for the overpayment

• Payment from unusual sources

How to Spot and Avoid Rental Scams in Vancouver

Most scams succeed because renters feel rushed. Slowing down is your best protection.

Before sending money or personal information, check:

• Always view the unit in person

• Verify the landlord or manager owns the unit

• Confirm the address and unit details independently

• Compare the rent to similar Vancouver listings

• Walk away from any request for money before viewing

Watch for red flags:

• You are told the unit will be gone today

• Landlord cannot meet or talk by phone

• Payment requested only via e-transfer or gift cards

• Details change when you ask follow-up questions

Bonus tip: If a listing feels off, trust your instincts. Reporting scams to local police and the listing platform protects both you and other renters.