Skip to content
CampusCribs
Early access

Sublease Scams: How to Spot a Fake Sublet Near Campus

Published 6 min read

Fake sublets work because students are in a hurry. You need a room by January, the price looks right, and the “subletter” says three other people want it. Here's how the scam works and how to avoid it.

How big the problem is

  • Since 2020, consumers have reported nearly 65,000 rental scams to the FTC, with about $65 million in reported losses (FTC).
  • In the 12 months ending June 2025, about half of people who reported a rental scam said it started with a fake Facebook ad (FTC).
  • Adults aged 18 to 29 were three times as likely as other adults to report losing money to a rental scam (FTC).
  • The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center logged more than $275 million in real estate fraud losses from 12,368 complaints in 2025, up from $173 million in 2024. IC3 counts rental fraud in that category (NAR, citing FBI IC3).

Students searching sublet groups on Facebook are the profile these numbers describe.

7 red flags

  1. They want money before you've seen the place. The FTC lists upfront payment before an in-person visit as a top sign of a scam (FTC).
  2. The rent is far below similar places nearby. A furnished room by Calhoun for half the going rate is bait.
  3. The listing copies a real one with different contact details. Scammers lift photos and text from real listings and swap in their own phone number or email (FTC).
  4. They ask for sensitive documents too early, such as your driver's license, pay stubs or other personal details (FTC). Never send a Social Security number to someone you haven't verified.
  5. They push a credit-check link. Some “credit checks” are affiliate links that sign you up for a paid membership (FTC).
  6. They can't show you the unit. “I'm already on co-op in Seattle, I'll mail you the keys” is the classic line. A real co-op student can arrange a video tour or have a roommate show the room.
  7. They want untraceable payment. Wire transfers, gift cards, crypto or “friends and family” payment apps are hard or impossible to reverse.

Checks that take five minutes

  • Search the address. See whether it's listed elsewhere at a different price, with different contacts, or for sale (FTC).
  • Reverse-image search the photos. If they appear in a listing in another city, walk away.
  • Ask for a live video tour in which they open a specific cabinet or window you name.
  • Confirm they're a student. Ask them to email you from their UC address.
  • Contact the landlord yourself. Find the property manager on your own, not through the subletter's contact info, and confirm the unit and the sublease.
  • Meet a roommate. Real roommates exist and will answer a text.
  • Pay with a method you can dispute, and only after you sign a written sublease (see the Ohio sublease agreement checklist).

If you've already paid

  1. Contact your bank or payment app right away and ask to reverse or dispute the payment.
  2. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI at ic3.gov.
  3. File a consumer complaint with the Ohio Attorney General.
  4. Report the listing on the platform where you found it, and warn the group it was posted in.
  5. Save everything: screenshots, messages, receipts and the listing URL.

Still looking for a room? See how to find a short-term sublet near UC.

Every CampusCribs subletter will be verified with a UC email. Get early access

FAQ

How do I know if a sublease is legit?
See the unit live in person or on video, confirm the landlord approved the sublease, sign a written agreement, and pay with a method you can dispute.
Is it safe to pay a sublease deposit on Venmo or Zelle?
Only once you've confirmed the person, the unit and the landlord's approval. These payments can be hard to reverse. Where possible, pay the deposit directly to the landlord.
What should I do if I got scammed on a sublet?
Contact your bank or payment app immediately, then report it to the FTC, the FBI's IC3 and the Ohio Attorney General.

Keep reading