If bitcoin is involved, run away.

If the offer to rent at a price that seemed to good to be true included an application fee to be sent to an unknown and untraceable destination...well...why should there be any surprise when it does not work out well.

No but that is a shame. An app fee is nothing compared to rent sent ahead with an unknown person.

When you say Bitcoin, my eyes glaze over. 

Oh, I've had them call me, having done worse - sent a security deposit, sent the first and last month's rent and the worst, given the scammer their social security number. 

They reach out to the listing agent to 'get the key' and say that the LA was the one with whom they were corresponding...for instance, instead of RockyDickerson@gmail.com, they may use RockyDickerson1@gmail.com or some misspelling of your name. The tenants believe it's you! It'll break your heart.

At least with an app fee, they haven't lost too much.

my daughter had people show up at her house that were looking to "rent" when it was on the market.  Not sure if they'd paid an application fee, but she sent them away and explained her house was only for sale, not rent.

I have not with my clients or anyone I personally know. 

As stated at the AR Zoom meeting today ... 

We are all suckers ... we were born suckers. 

Such a shame that we can trust too much and be so royally screwed over. 

     Zillow and  Bitcoin are both playgrounds for scammers, and they are both potential landmines for renters and buyers.  I hope that your client has not learned an expensive lesson.

If this is your client, why are they going through Zillow?  And yes, I've seen this before, but first I've heard with bitcoin.  

I agree with Lyn Sims  the whole bitcoin thing goes over my head,  even though I have tried to understand it.  I do know that China is blocking it, and the IRS wants it reported...A

If I were a real estate agent, I would set up a Google alert for all my listings - sales and rentals.

This way, I would know when the property address shows up anywhere online.

Several years back there were a lot of rental scams  on Craigs list going on with homes that actually  were for sale.  I started receiving a lot of calls and wonder what the heck was this all about - figured it out quickly.  Hasn't happened since.

As for Bitcoin... that's just stupid to be paying an app fee through a online source to who knows who.  Bummer for the client. Hope it wasn't too much.

Hello Rocky Dickerson I haven't seen yet, but Bitcoin can be complicated and try to avoid it.

In our tough rental market, the scammers have been busy.  I have not heard of the Bitcoin angle, but a few of my clients have asked me about some great rental deals their kids found to rent.  The kids were all excited about the opportunities, but warning bells went off in their parent's heads.  I did a little research (it did not take much) and found out they were scams. Thankfully, the kids did not send in the rent and first month's rent.  Scammers are ruthless, targeting those who can least afford it.

This is a new one on me... the only rental scams I'm aware of are on Craigs List and haven't seen those in a long time.

I'm constantly amazed that people are STILL falling for these scams. 

Bitcoin and Zillow always seemed like a scam. I never got involved with Bitcoin or with anyone that did. It was fake from go, just like Zillow.

Seems like an old dog with a new trick. Used to get calls about this same scam on Craigslist, like Ken Jones was speaking of, from people all the time. I hope the app fee wasn't too exorbitant, because it is gone at this point. 

I have heard about people being scammed on rental's and FSBO's but no one that I know. Far to much online scamming going on, seems people never learn. 

fortuantely before they sent the money they went by to "look" at my listing and discovered it was occupied and NOT for rent so they didn't send the money.  It was craigslist, not zillow.

damn scammers

There are many scams out there.  Something similar to what Ken Jones said happened to my vacant FOR SALE ONLY listing a few years ago.  The crook told the potential renter to send him money and he did.  The daughter of the renter called me wanting to get more info about my seller.  I guess she was under the impression that this was done by my seller.  I am not giving out any info about my seller unless there's a police report.  At that point, I don't even know whether this woman on the other end of the phone is legitimate or not.  She said she'll be calling the police but I never heard back.

Can't say that I have

I have only been involved in a couple of my clients when renting, I don't play in that arena.

Where thee is a will there is a way. Scammers are skilled at tricking those who think they are getting a deal. And the beat goes on!

Playing with fake money to pay for fake rentals.

Always a new scam coming along.

Rocky Dickerson Here is a post about this rental scamming.

Careful...these people are ruthless.

It's pretty scary to read about these types of scams...not experience with this, yet. but did see a couple of Craigslist ads for rentals, based on 2 properties I had listed for sale only. Renters these days have to be particularly careful of the scammers. I would immediately be concerned if the request is to send money somewhere, and worse deal in bitcoin. I feel so sad for those who get taken in by the scammers...and in a tough rental market, too!

I had a listing about 6 months ago where a Craigslist scammer did a similar scenario to Ken & Fred's comment above. I can't believe these people who send money to someone for a sight unseen rental truly mind boggling!

It's amazing how many people are getting scammed by rentals, long term and vacation rentals. Never mind how payment is made.  I would never rely on someone I haven't seen, talked to or met and can check out.  That's why we real estate people are here. Go around us and you take your chances.  PS.  Lost Bitcoin that way? That's why I use credit cards from companies that I trust.  They will get the money back for me. 

Bitcoin is difficult to turn into cash. They probably foolishly provided access to their bitcoin locker, meaning they clean it out. 

These type of scams have been going on for 10+ years. Some people never learn, and desperate people don't think clearly. One of the first times I ran into it was in Reston VA when 2 different families sent money to scammer, and they both showed up at the same time to move in. Of course no one showed up with a key for them, and the For Sale sign was still out front.

No, have not expereince this.
However, all I can think to say is, "What were they thinking?" Bitcoin!"
It seems the most desperate are also the most gullible.

Not with Bitcoin but my parents were scammed years ago and as they were moving in, the police showed up and they were out $4000 plus had to find temporary quarters until they could find another proerty.

I've heard of scams but not with bitcoin. I once had someone call me about a rental. The photo and description was my listing. They copied my listing and made it into a rental post on CL. I told the guy if it were for rent, it would be more than what it was listed for. He said he thought it was too good to be true. Good think he googled and found me then reached out. I emailed CL and they took the post down.