Housing Scams and Prevention

If you have been scammed or are unsure if you have come across a housing scam, contact Northeastern University Police Department’s non-emergency line (617-373-2121) and Off Campus Engagement and Support (617-373-8480) to let us know. You can also report a scam through the below avenues.

  1. Report the scam to your state consumer protection office. You can also report a scam to your local police if you lost money or other possessions in the scam.
  2. Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC is the main agency that collects scam reports. Report the scam to the FTC online, or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, ET). The FTC accepts complaints about most scams.
  3. Report fake websites, emails, malware, and other internet scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). If you have been affected by an international scam or a scam that started outside the United State, report it through econsumer.gov.

Some common immigration scams are listed below. To see examples and analysis of confirmed scams that have targeted Northeastern students, see this page.

Common scams

Some common signs that something is a scam are listed below. However, a rental listing that has one of these attributes does not necessarily mean that it is a scam. You should do your research and verify that the details are correct and legitimate.

  • Unusually low rent. Make sure you know the average monthly rent for your neighborhood.
  • Property is not available to tour. Sometimes properties are not available to view, but if they continue to avoid showing you a property it might be a sign that the property or offer is not legitimate.
  • When there is heavy emphasis on getting your deposit or first payment but few or no details on the actual rental process. Or if the security deposit is less than one month’s rent, without any other upfront costs.

How to avoid these scams

If you are unsure if something is a scam, you can contact NUPD or Northeastern Off Campus Housing. Off Campus Housing also lists some additional resources on their website, some of which are listed below. For more resources or assistance from Off Campus Housing, please visit their website.

  • Use the Northeastern’s Off-Campus Housing Databaseto find reputable listings from licensed realtors and local property owners in the Boston area.
  • Know average rental costs.Unusually low rent is a potential sign of a scam. View Boston rental cost by neighborhood.
  • Confirm the apartment exists. See the apartment in-person, send a proxy, or do a live virtual tour. Scammers will avoid tours as they do not have a property that they will be able to show.
  • Confirm the realtor office location, phone number, and email and that they are in working order. These should also match the contact info that you have been using to get in touch with the realtor/broker. You can also verify a realtor’s license. Do not share personal information with any parties until you are verified that they exist and are who you are talking to.
  • Inquire about fees, due dates, contact information, and the application process. Scammers will often focus on getting your money and will lack many details of the process or not have an application process at all. Make sure to get everything in writing and use the NU Off Campus Housing Lease Genius page to double check the lease.
  • Never wire money or use cash as a deposit or payment for the first and last month’s rent. Avoid using Western Union, MoneyGram, etc. Use methods that can be tracked and protected. The most common and safest form of money transfer for deposits is a bank.