How to Spot a Fake Rental Listing
Most fake listings share a handful of specific, checkable red flags. Here's exactly what to look for, and simple checks you can run yourself in a few minutes.
Updated 23 July 2026
The clearest red flags in a fake rental listing are: a price noticeably below comparable properties in the same area, refusal to allow a viewing in person or by verified video call, and pressure to transfer a deposit or fee before you've seen a written tenancy agreement. Any one of these alone is worth a pause; two or more together are a strong signal to walk away.
Red flags to watch for
An Garda Síochána's own warning to renters lists these as the recurring signals across the accommodation fraud reports they see:
Treat these as warning signs, not automatic proof of a scam
- The listing only exists on social media (Facebook Marketplace, a Facebook group), not a mainstream site.
- All contact happens over Messenger or WhatsApp, never a phone call.
- The messages have noticeable grammar or spelling errors.
- Property details are thin -- vague on floor plan, exact address, or move-in date.
- There's pressure to decide or pay immediately, citing high demand or another interested renter.
- The "landlord" can't or won't meet in person or do a live video call.
- Payment is requested before you've viewed the property or seen a written agreement.
Quick checks you can do yourself
Reverse image search the photos
Save a distinctive photo from the listing and search for it using an image search engine -- if it appears elsewhere under a different address or price, that's a strong signal something is wrong.
Check the tenancy is registered
Search the address or Eircode on the RTB's public register at rtb.ie/compliance/check-the-register. It won't confirm the listing is genuine on its own, but a real, currently-tenanted or recently-let property is more likely to show up than one invented for a scam.
Ask for a video call viewing
A landlord or agent unwilling to do even a short live video walkthrough, with no reasonable explanation, is one of the clearest signals to be cautious.
Check the agent's PSRA licence
Letting agents in Ireland must be licensed by the Property Services Regulatory Authority. Search their name or licence number on the public register at psr.ie -- a genuine agent will readily provide their licence number and won't mind you checking.
Tip
None of these checks take more than a few minutes, and a genuine landlord or agent will never be put off by reasonable questions. See our overview of rental scams in Ireland for the real numbers behind these patterns and who's actually being targeted.
Frequently asked questions
Can a reverse image search really catch a fake listing?+
Often, yes. Scammers frequently reuse photos from a genuine listing elsewhere (sometimes one already let). Searching a distinctive photo from the listing using an image search engine can reveal if it's appeared elsewhere under a different address or price.
Is it a red flag if a landlord uses a letting agent instead of dealing directly?+
No -- using a registered letting agent is completely normal in Ireland. The red flag is an agent who can't or won't confirm their PSRA licence number, or who asks for payment before any viewing or agreement. You can check any licence number yourself at psr.ie, free.
Is Revolut a safe way to pay a deposit?+
Gardaí specifically advise using a payment method that's traceable and refundable. Revolut and similar instant-transfer apps are convenient, but once money is sent to a scammer it's just as hard to reverse as a wire transfer -- treat a first payment to someone you haven't met the same way you'd treat a wire transfer request.
What if the listing looks genuine but I still feel unsure?+
Trust that instinct. Ask for a video call viewing if an in-person one isn't possible, request to see a copy of the tenancy agreement before paying anything, and never feel pressured by an artificial deadline to send money faster than you're comfortable with.
Sources
Related resources
Scams & Safety
Rental Scams in Ireland
The most common rental scams renters encounter in Ireland, and how to protect yourself.
Rental Guides
How to Rent in Ireland
A complete, practical walkthrough of renting in Ireland from search to signing.
Rental Guides
How to Get Apartment Viewings
Why so many enquiries go unanswered, and how to actually get a viewing booked.
Search major sites from one place
Padavio monitors Daft.ie, Rent.ie and other major Irish rental sites and alerts you the moment a matching listing appears -- always apply your own checks before paying anything.