How to Spot a Rental Scam Before You Send a Deposit

In our last post, we covered the documents you need to rent an apartment in Alberta. Now that you have your ID, pay stubs and references ready to go, there's one more thing to know before you start applying: not every listing you find online is real.

Rental scams are on the rise across Canada. Police from British Columbia to New Brunswick have issued warnings this year about fake listings on Facebook Marketplace and online classifieds. In one case, RCMP in Moncton arrested two people over a deposit scam that took about $7,000 from renters. Scammers copy photos of real homes, post them at a tempting price, and collect deposits for units they don't own.

Why this matters right now: Rents across Alberta have been falling and landlords are offering move-in incentives. That's good news for renters, but it also makes a "too good to be true" price easier to believe. Scammers know this.

The Red Flags

You can't see the unit in person. The "landlord" is out of the country, working away, or "too busy," but will mail you the keys once you pay.
They want money before a viewing or a signed lease. Especially by e-transfer, gift card, crypto or wire transfer.
The price is well below similar units nearby. Compare it with a few other listings in the same area before you get excited.
Pressure to decide right now. "Ten other people want it, so send the deposit today to hold it."
They ask for your SIN or banking login. A landlord does not need either to screen you.
The photos show up somewhere else. The same pictures appear in another listing, at a different price or under a different name.
The story keeps changing. A different name, a different phone number, or answers that don't match the listing.

How to Check That a Listing Is Real

View the unit in person, or by live video call with someone physically walking you through it. Ask them to open a specific cupboard or show the view from a specific window.
Reverse-search the photos with Google Images or Google Lens. If the same pictures show up on a sale listing or in another city, walk away.
Look up the landlord or company. A legitimate property manager will have a website, a business name and a way to reach them other than a Facebook profile created last month.
Confirm who owns it. In Alberta, anyone can order a land title search online for a small fee to see who owns a property. If the name doesn't match the person renting it to you, ask why.
Get a written lease before money changes hands, and get a receipt for every payment.

Which Documents to Share, and When

In our documents post, we listed what landlords ask for. Here's the timing that keeps you safe:

Stage	What's reasonable to share
Before a viewing	Your name, phone number, email, and who would be moving in. Nothing else.
After you've seen the unit and want to apply	A rental application, proof of income, references, and written consent for a credit and background check.
After you're approved	Sign the lease, then pay the security deposit and first month's rent, with a receipt.
Never needed	Your Social Insurance Number (SIN), online banking passwords, or a full photo of your bank card.

Know the deposit rule: In Alberta, a security deposit cannot be more than one month's rent. If someone asks for more to "hold" a unit, that's a warning sign. (Source: Alberta.ca: Starting a Tenancy)

If You Think You've Been Scammed

Call your bank right away. Some e-transfers can be stopped if you act quickly.
Report it to your local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501).
Report the listing to Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji or whichever site it was posted on, so it comes down before someone else falls for it.
Watch your credit if you shared your ID or SIN. You can request a fraud alert with Equifax and TransUnion.

How We Do It at CM Bright Prospects

We want you to check us out. Every one of our units can be viewed before you apply. Every applicant goes through the same third-party screening, and we never ask for a deposit before you've seen the home and signed a lease. Our current listings are posted right here on our own website, so if you see one of our units somewhere else at a different price or under a different name, please let us know.

Looking for a Rental You Can Trust?

Browse our verified listings, or join our VIP Rental List to hear about new Edmonton and Leduc units before they go public.

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This post is provided for general information and reflects Alberta law as of publication. It isn't legal advice. For questions about your specific situation, consult the Residential Tenancies Act or a legal professional.

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