The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is urging Queensland tenants to be vigilant of scams.

A rental scam has surfaced in South Australia that involves tenants receiving a fake letter claiming their rental property has changed ownership and instructing them to send future rental payments to a new bank account.

The letters are made to look official and are addressed from the real estate agency the tenant rents through, including having the agency’s logo printed at the top of the page.

Acting RTA Chief Executive Officer Kristin Spruce urged renters to stay alert.

‘This latest scam is a reminder to potential and existing tenants to be vigilant as scammers devise new ways to target the rental sector.’

Recent reports have highlighted scammers are continuing to use Facebook, including Facebook Marketplace, to advertise fake rental properties. The scammer asks prospective tenants to transfer funds to secure the advertised property, before cutting off communication with them or sending them to an already occupied property once the money has been paid.

‘Scammers often target those who may be feeling pressure to find a rental property quickly and luring them into sending money under false pretences,’ Ms Spruce said.

She said the latest scam illustrated the importance of also staying vigilant. ‘Only engage with property managers and owners using verified communication channels.’

When searching for a rental, the following precautions should be taken:

• Check the details of the advertised property carefully via a web search, e.g. rental history, reverse image search.
• Look up the person or company advertising the property to confirm they are legitimate.
• Check the rent amount being advertised is a fixed price.
• Check and inspect the property in person or virtually via a video walkthrough with the owner or property manager.
• Know your rights and rental laws around tenancy processes.
• Be aware of your property manager/owner’s preferred method of communication.

Tenants should also be aware that the RTA will only contact them using an official RTA email address and will not request personal or payment information via text or unofficial channels.

For more information, visit our rental scams webpage or listen to the RTA podcast about how to protect yourself from rental scams.

Reporting a scam

If you have been personally affected by a rental scam, you can report the matter via ReportCyber so that it can be referred to the correct law enforcement agency to investigate where appropriate. Should you require help to submit a report, please attend your local Police Station or Policelink on 131 444. 

If the scam involves a real estate agent or agency, you can make an official complaint to the Office of Fair Trading. You should also contact your bank as soon as possible. Learn more about where to get help.