Perth Rental Scams Surge Amid Housing Crisis
Perth's highly competitive rental market has become a fertile ground for online scams, ensnaring individuals desperate for affordable housing. One renter, identified as David, reported encountering numerous fraudulent listings on Facebook Marketplace after struggling to secure properties through traditional real estate channels.
Understanding the Scam Modus Operandi
David identified several recurring patterns indicative of these scams, including similar wording in communications, consistent excuses for inaccessible property inspections, and identical email addresses appearing across different listings.
Scammers typically request hundreds of dollars for a bond or security deposit, pressuring prospective renters to secure a property quickly. The fraudulent listings frequently feature professional images stolen from legitimate past sales or rental advertisements found on reputable sites like realestate.com.au or Domain. These properties are often advertised significantly below market price, with examples such as a one-bedroom apartment with bills included for $350 per week in North Coogee.
Profiles associated with these scams are typically newly created, have few connections, and primarily display other rental listings. After moving conversations to platforms like Messenger or WhatsApp, scammers often present semi-coherent legalistic text and employ high-pressure tactics, emphasizing other interested renters, before demanding an upfront payment. A contact number provided on a bogus rental agreement sent to David was later found to be disconnected.
Significant Financial Losses Amid Housing Crisis
Consumer Protection acting commissioner Owen Kelly reported substantial financial losses from rental scams in Western Australia. Over the past three years, nearly $200,000 has been lost, with $50,000 recorded in 2025 alone and $100,000 in 2023. The largest single loss recorded in April 2025 was $5835.
"Scammers often encourage drive-by viewings of real properties but prevent proper inspections to foster emotional investment before demanding payments."
These scams are unfolding against the backdrop of a severe housing crisis in Perth. As of December, the vacancy rate was a mere 2.6 percent, and rental prices remained high, averaging $700 per week for houses and $670 per week for units. Legitimate real estate agencies, such as Fremantle Co, have even had photos from their own listings misappropriated for these fraudulent advertisements.
Industry Warnings and Calls for Action
The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) has issued several crucial red flags for potential rental scams:
- Most properties in WA are managed by property managers, not advertised directly on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, or WhatsApp.
- Be cautious of extremely low prices; research current rental rates on www.reiwa.com.
- Landlords claiming inability to show properties due to being away, interstate, or overseas, or suggesting only drive-bys, are common scam tactics.
- Beware of pressure to make quick decisions and send funds to secure a property.
David, who works in technology, suggested that social media platforms like Meta should implement "know your customer" rules, similar to banking regulations, or block suspicious listings outright. A Meta spokesperson stated that the company employs anti-scam products, including inline warnings and Messenger filters, and actively collaborates with government and law enforcement. They encourage users to report any content violating their policies.
REIWA president Suzanne Brown advises individuals to trust their intuition.
"If a listing appears misleading or too good to be true, interaction with the 'property manager' or 'landlord' should cease."