How to spot a rental scam and protect your money

A San Francisco resident lost over $18,000 in an elaborate rental scam after fraudsters impersonated a property owner on Craigslist, using identical listings from a legitimate Zillow post to deceive him. The scammer invited the victim to a real open house, where he met the actual owner but failed to verify contact details. Subsequent communication seemed normal, leading him to wire $18,600 for rent and deposit before the scammer disappeared. Experts advise renters to independently verify property ownership through county records or management companies, avoid wire transfers and urgent payment requests, and confirm listing sources directly with owners to prevent similar fraud.