For many residents in Perth, finding a rental has become a high-stakes challenge. As demand for housing surges, a troubling trend has just been revealed. An Australian housing scam preying on renters who are willing to stretch every dollar to secure a roof over their heads. These rent scams, often orchestrated by individuals posing as private landlords on online platforms like Facebook Marketplace, have left victims financially and emotionally drained.
The scheme typically begins with a seemingly genuine rental listing. Scammers steal photos from legitimate properties and post them online, offering rent well below the market rate. In Perth, median rental prices are at historic highs, with houses averaging $700 per week and units $670. Scammers exploit this stress by pitching “exclusive” opportunities that seem almost too good to be true.
The Mechanics of the Australian Housing Scam
Messages from these fraudsters are carefully crafted to manipulate potential tenants. One such message promises that the apartment will be “reserved exclusively only for you” in exchange for a security deposit or “commitment fee” of just a few hundred dollars. The deposit is presented as fully refundable or deductible from the first week’s rent. In reality, once the money is transferred, the scammer vanishes, leaving victims without the property and out of pocket.
WA Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Trish Blake, describes the situation as a “perfect playground for scammers.” She explains that the perpetrators often groom their targets by appealing to their sense of urgency and personal integrity, portraying themselves as allies to those struggling in the rental market. “They’ll tell you that you’re a real battler, that you’re a good person, and that they want to help you out,” Blake said, as reported by Nine News.
Rising Numbers and Financial Impact
The scale of the problem is growing. In 2025, WA ScamNet, part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety, documented 20 cases of rental scams, totaling losses of $51,875, a 27 percent increase from the previous year. Scammers typically provide a property address for drive-by inspections but evade any requests for in-person viewings. To add credibility, fake rental agreements featuring official logos may be used, and tenants are pressured to pay via bank transfer, bypassing safer, traceable channels.
Rob Mandanici, a member of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, stresses the emotional pressure on renters. “People have pure desperation, and they will do what they can for their family, thinking they’re doing the right thing while potentially dealing with unsavoury characters,” he said.
Commerce Minister Dr. Tony Buti noted the heartbreak of seeing renters targeted in this way. “It is particularly heartbreaking to see scammers targeting renters because they know they are under pressure and may take risks to secure a property,” he said. He advises tenants to insist on inspecting the property in person and to treat unusually cheap rent as a red flag.
Why Perth Is Vulnerable to Housing and Rent Scams
Several factors make Perth an ideal environment for this type of Australian housing scam. Rental vacancies are low, demand is high, and properties are snatched quickly, often in as little as 16 days. This scarcity creates a sense of urgency among renters, which scammers exploit.
The Cook Government has issued repeated warnings to Western Australian tenants to remain vigilant, especially when dealing with private landlords or online marketplaces. Inspecting the property before paying, verifying the landlord’s identity, and consulting licensed real estate agents are critical protection methods.
Several practical tips to avoid falling victim to rental scams include:
- Be suspicious of properties advertised for well below market rent.
- Do not rely solely on photos; perform reverse image searches to verify authenticity.
- Check the property on reputable real estate websites and contact previous listing agents.
- Avoid landlords or listings that use the same email address for multiple properties.
- Always inspect the property in person before signing a lease or paying funds.
- Ensure a formal lease agreement (Form 1AA) and keys are provided before transferring any money.
- Be cautious with direct bank transfers; only pay verified landlords or licensed agents.
Scams can be reported through the WA ScamNet website, or further guidance on rent is available via the Consumer Protection website. The Australian housing scam in Perth is more than a financial threat; it exploits human vulnerability in a market under immense pressure.
Renters finding high prices and fierce competition must combine caution with diligence, balancing urgency with verification. While there is no substitute for careful vetting, awareness and education remain the most effective defense against campaigns like the Australian housing scam.
