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Red flags and checks

Rental scams in Vancouver: how to check a listing before you pay

In Metro Vancouver, a rental is likely a scam if the rent is well below the area's going rate, the landlord cannot show it in person, they want a deposit by e-Transfer before a viewing, or the deposit is more than half a month's rent. In BC a landlord can charge at most half a month's rent as a security deposit, plus up to half a month for a pet. View the unit in person and confirm who owns it before you send any money.

Last reviewed . Written by Jeyki Security, free to use and print.

Metro Vancouver’s tight rental market makes people rush, and scammers count on it. They copy photos from real sale or rental listings, sometimes even steal a real owner’s name, and post a unit at a price that seems too good to miss. Then they ask for a deposit before anyone has seen the place. Summer and September move-in season are especially busy.

Red flags

  • Rent well below what similar places nearby cost.
  • No in-person viewing. The landlord is “overseas”, “working up north” or “in the hospital”, and will mail the keys.
  • Money before a viewing, usually by Interac e-Transfer, wire, crypto or gift cards.
  • A deposit over half a month’s rent, or first and last month plus a deposit up front.
  • Pressure. “Lots of people want it, send the deposit today to hold it.”
  • An application form that asks for your SIN, banking details or photos of your ID before you have even seen the unit.
  • Messages that move fast to WhatsApp, text or a personal email and away from the platform.

BC deposit rules worth knowing

Under BC rules, a landlord can charge:

  • A security deposit of no more than half of one month’s rent.
  • A pet damage deposit of no more than half of one month’s rent, regardless of how many pets.

If a landlord asks for more than these limits, that alone is a reason to walk away. The Residential Tenancy Branch at gov.bc.ca has the full rules.

Checks before you pay anything

  1. View it in person, or send someone you trust. Go inside, not just to the lobby.
  2. Reverse-search the photos and address. If the same photos show up in an old sale listing or under a different city, it is a copy.
  3. Confirm who owns it. Ask for photo ID matching the name on the lease. For a condo, a property manager or strata can confirm a unit is for rent.
  4. Get a written tenancy agreement before paying. BC has a standard form on gov.bc.ca.
  5. Pay only after you sign and get keys, and use a payment you can trace. Never gift cards or crypto.
  6. Never send your SIN. A landlord does not need it to rent to you.

If you already paid

  1. Call your bank now and ask if the e-Transfer or payment can be stopped or recalled.
  2. Save the ad, the messages, the landlord’s name and phone number, and your receipts.
  3. Report the ad to Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or wherever it was posted.
  4. Report it to your local police non-emergency line and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre on 1-888-495-8501. Our Metro Vancouver reporting guide lists every local number.
  5. If you sent ID or your SIN, ask Equifax and TransUnion for a free fraud alert.

Selling or buying on Marketplace instead? See Interac e-Transfer and Marketplace scams.

Common questions

How much deposit can a landlord ask for in BC?

A security deposit can be at most half of one month's rent. A pet damage deposit can also be at most half a month's rent, however many pets you have. A landlord asking for more, or for first and last month plus a deposit before you have seen the place, is a red flag.

Is it normal to pay a deposit before viewing a rental?

No. Do not send money for a place you have not seen in person, or that a person you trust has not seen for you. Scammers often say they are overseas and will mail the keys after you pay.

How can I check that the landlord really owns the place?

Search the address and the listing photos online to see if they appear elsewhere, such as an old sale listing. Ask to meet at the unit and see ID that matches the name on the lease. If a property manager is involved, find the company's phone number yourself and call to confirm the listing.

Is a video tour enough?

It is safer than nothing, but a scammer can play an old video. If you cannot visit, ask a friend to go, or ask for a live video call where they walk to the front door and show the unit number.

I sent a deposit and the landlord has disappeared. What can I do?

Call your bank straight away and ask whether the e-Transfer can be stopped or recalled. Save every message and the listing. Report it to your local police non-emergency line, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the site where the ad was posted.

Sources

  1. Tenancy deposits and fees, Government of British Columbia
  2. Avoiding rental property scams, Consumer Protection BC
  3. CAFC financial crime trend bulletin: rental scams, Financial and Consumer Services Commission (New Brunswick)
  4. North Vancouver RCMP warn of scam targeting desperate renters, North Shore News
  5. B.C. man's identity stolen, used in fake Craigslist rental ads: RCMP, CTV News
  6. Burnaby couple catches scammer trying to rent out condo they just bought, Burnaby Now

Not sure about a listing or a landlord's message?

The family cyber safety setup secures your key accounts and phones and includes 3 scam checks over 90 days. Send me a listing or a message and I reply within one business day with a verdict and what to do next. It is a flat C$249.

See the family setup