What are common warning signs?
Scammers copy real photos, invent a landlord who is “abroad,” and pressure you to pay before anyone can tour. Watch for:
- Rent far below similar live listings on the same street or in the same building.
- The “landlord” cannot meet and wants a deposit sent the same day.
- No in-person or live-video tour is offered.
- Payment by gift card, Western Union, cryptocurrency, or a third party.
- Only email or a messaging app; no phone number that you can call back.
- Vague location, reused photos, or a listing that also appears under another name.
- A request for your SIN, passport, or banking login before a showing.
How do I verify a listing before I pay?
- Request an in-person tour, or a live video walkthrough if you are relocating.
- Search the address and reverse-search the photos.
- Ask who owns or manages the home and compare that to public land-title records in your province.
- Call a building office if the listing is in a multi-unit property.
- Read the written tenancy agreement before any money changes hands.
On EazyRental, prefer listings that have been through moderation and host verification — and still do your own check. A badge is not a guarantee of ownership.
How should I pay a landlord safely?
- Pay only after you have a signed agreement that names the payee.
- Use a traceable method (bank draft, certified cheque, or an account-to-account transfer you can document).
- Get a written receipt for every payment.
- Do not use gift cards, wires, or crypto because a stranger asked you to.
- In Alberta, a real security deposit cannot be more than one month’s rent and must go into a trust account — see Alberta tenancy basics.
What should I do if I already sent money?
- Contact your bank or payment provider immediately.
- Report to local police and keep the file number.
- Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or on antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
- Use Report listing on the EazyRental property page and tell us what happened.
- Change passwords if you shared login details, and watch your credit file.
How do I report a suspicious listing on EazyRental?
Open the property page and choose Report listing. Describe what felt wrong and attach evidence if you have it. For threats or immediate danger, call local police first. EazyRental reviews reports and can remove listings; we cannot recover money you sent to someone else.