Avoiding rental scams

Stay safe on Roost

We check every listing, but scammers still occasionally slip through. Protect yourself:

Red flags

• Price way below market — if it's too good to be true, it usually is.
• Landlord "abroad" who can't do a viewing — big red flag.
• Pressure to pay a deposit before you've viewed or signed anything.
• Requests to pay by cryptocurrency, gift cards, or Western Union — always fraud.
• PPS number asked for in the initial enquiry — never legitimate.

Golden rules

1. View before you pay — always view in person, or via a live video call at minimum.
2. Pay by bank transfer — never cash, never crypto, always a receipt.
3. Get everything in writing — tenancy agreement before deposit.

If a listing feels off, hit Report at the bottom of the page. We investigate every report.