How to spot a sublet scam.
Fake sublet listings are everywhere, especially in Facebook groups. Here are the red flags and how to protect yourself.
Find a verified subletFree · 30 seconds · First 100 per city get Founding Member
Red flags
- The price is way below everything else nearby.
- They can't show you the room, live or on video.
- They're "out of the country" and will mail you the keys.
- They want a deposit before you've seen anything.
- They ask for Zelle, Venmo "friends and family", a wire, gift cards or crypto.
- They pressure you to decide today.
- The photos show up on other listings when you reverse image search them.
How to protect yourself
- See the room in person or on a live video call.
- Ask for a video walkthrough of the actual room.
- Confirm the landlord approves the sublet.
- Sign a written sublease before paying.
- Pay with a method that has some protection, and never send money to someone you haven't verified.
How Submet helps
Every room on Submet gets a 15-second video tour, profiles are verified with a school email or phone, and people can be vouched for by past roommates and teammates. Report anything suspicious and it comes down.
Free to join. Takes 30 seconds.
The first 100 in every city become Founding Members and get first pick when it opens.
Questions, answered
How do I know if a sublet is real?
See the room live or on video, confirm the person is on the lease, get landlord approval and sign a sublease before you pay.
What payment methods should I avoid?
Wires, gift cards, crypto and peer-to-peer apps sent to strangers, since that money is very hard to get back.