Paris has one of the most competitive rental markets in Europe, and scammers know exactly who to target: foreigners. You’re searching from abroad, unfamiliar with French rental rules, working against a relocation deadline, and often don’t speak the language. That combination makes expats the perfect mark.
During the 2024 Olympics, fake Airbnb listings exploded across Paris: tourists arrived to find addresses that didn’t exist. Airbnb removed over 59,000 fraudulent listings that year alone. The long-term rental market isn’t immune: scammers use the same tactics, and the stakes are even higher when you’re signing a year-long lease.
The good news? Most scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to look for, they’re easy to spot. This guide breaks down the most common tricks, the legal rules that protect you, and exactly how to verify that an apartment is legitimate.
The warning signs every expat needs to recognize and how to protect yourself.
Why Expats Are Prime Targets
Scammers don’t target expats randomly. They exploit specific vulnerabilities that come with relocating internationally.
When you’re apartment hunting from New York or London, you can’t easily visit properties in person. You’re often working against a visa timeline or a job start date, which creates urgency scammers love to exploit. You may not know that a “2-bedroom in Le Marais for €900/month” is laughably below market rate, but a local would spot that red flag instantly.
Add the language barrier and unfamiliarity with French rental law, and you’re navigating a system designed for people who already know the rules. Scammers count on this knowledge gap. They use urgency (“another tenant is interested”), emotional pressure (“I really want to help you”), and just enough legitimacy to seem trustworthy.
Understanding how long it realistically takes to find an apartment helps you resist the pressure tactics scammers rely on. Understanding the game is your first defense.
The 5 Most Common Rental Scams in Paris
While scams take many forms, most fall into a few predictable categories. Here’s what to watch for.
Scam #1: The “Landlord Abroad” Story
A “landlord” contacts you about a beautiful apartment at a suspiciously good price. They explain they’re living overseas (often for work, missionary service, or family reasons) and can’t meet in person. They offer to send the keys once you wire a deposit.
The apartment often exists, but the scammer doesn’t own it. They’ve copied photos from a legitimate listing or Airbnb. Once you send money, they disappear.
Red flags:
- Communication only via WhatsApp, Telegram, or email, but never phone calls
- Requests for wire transfers, Western Union, or cryptocurrency
- Elaborate personal stories explaining why they can’t meet
- Pressure to pay quickly before you “lose” the apartment
Rule: Never send money to someone you haven’t met, for an apartment you haven’t seen.
Scam #2: Payment Before Visiting
Some listings demand a “reservation fee,” “holding deposit,” or even several months’ rent before you can visit the apartment.
This is illegal in France. Under French rental law, a landlord cannot require any payment before you’ve both visited the property and signed the lease. The only exception is a small fee for a preliminary reservation contract (contrat de réservation) in very specific circumstances, and even then, it must be refundable.
Red flags:
- Any payment requested before signing the lease
- Requests for cash or untraceable payment methods
- Vague explanations about “securing” your spot
Rule: Deposits are paid after signing, not before. No exceptions.
Scam #3: Fake Listings with Stolen Photos
Scammers copy photos from Airbnb, Booking.com, or legitimate rental sites to create fake long-term rental ads. They post them on platforms with less verification, particularly Leboncoin and Facebook expat groups, at prices just attractive enough to generate interest.
The apartment in the photos may be real, but it’s not available for rent, or the person posting doesn’t control it. During the 2024 Olympics, this tactic exploded, with AI-generated profiles and fabricated reviews making fake listings harder to spot.
Red flags:
- Photos that look too professional or staged (reverse image search them)
- Listings only on Facebook groups, Leboncoin, or messaging apps
- No option to schedule an in-person visit
- Rent significantly below market rate for the neighborhood
Rule: Always reverse image search apartment photos. If they appear elsewhere online, walk away.
How much should rent actually cost? Check our Paris Rent Prices guide to know what’s realistic for each arrondissement.
Scam #4: Fake Agencies and “Relocation Experts”
Some scammers set up professional-looking websites or social media accounts claiming to help expats find apartments. They collect upfront “service fees” or “membership fees,” promise access to exclusive listings, then deliver nothing or disappear entirely.
Legitimate agencies in France must be registered and hold a professional card (carte professionnelle) for property management activities. They have physical offices you can visit and verifiable business registration numbers (SIRET).
Red flags:
- No verifiable SIRET number or physical office address
- Communication only via email, DMs, or chat apps
- Pressure to pay fees before seeing any properties
- No reviews from verified clients, or only glowing testimonials on their own site
Rule: Verify any agency’s SIRET at societe.com or infogreffe.fr before paying anything.
Scam #5: Illegal Rent and Deposit Demands
Some landlords — or people posing as landlords — take advantage of foreigners’ unfamiliarity with French rental rules. They demand multiple months of rent upfront, excessive deposits, or fees that violate rent control regulations.
French law is specific about what landlords can request:
| Legal | Illegal |
|---|---|
| Security deposit of 1 month’s rent (unfurnished) or 2 months (furnished) | Deposit exceeding these limits |
| First month’s rent at key handover | Multiple months’ rent in advance |
| Agency fees up to €12/m² in Paris (tenant’s share) | Fees beyond legal caps |
| Proof of income (typically 3x monthly rent) | Requests for bank passwords, Social Security numbers, or excessive personal data |
Paris also has rent control (encadrement des loyers). You can verify whether a rent complies with legal limits using the official encadrement des loyers tool.
Rule: Know the legal limits. If someone asks for more, they’re either uninformed or trying to take advantage of you.
Need a guarantor? Some scams involve fake guarantor services. Read our Guarantor Guide for legitimate options like Visale and Garantme.
How to Verify an Apartment Is Legitimate
Knowing the scams is half the battle. The other half is verification. These steps take minutes but can save you thousands.
Visit the Apartment (or Have Someone Do It for You)
Scammers almost never allow face-to-face meetings. An in-person visit is the single most reliable way to confirm a listing is real. If you’re still abroad, ask a trusted friend, colleague, or relocation professional to visit on your behalf and send photos or video of the actual unit, not just the common areas.
Reverse Image Search the Photos
Right-click any listing photo and search Google Images or use TinEye. If the same images appear on Airbnb, Booking.com, or other rental sites, the listing is likely fake.
Check the Address on Google Maps
Use Street View to confirm the building exists and matches the photos. One expat caught a scam by noticing the street name visible through a window didn’t match the listed address.
Verify the Landlord or Agency
For private landlords, ask for proof of ownership (titre de propriété) or recent property tax statements (taxe foncière). For agencies, verify their SIRET number at societe.com. A legitimate agency will have a physical office you can visit and a carte professionnelle.
Compare Rent to Market Rates
If a 50m² apartment in the 6th arrondissement is listed at €1,000/month, something is wrong. Use the encadrement des loyers tool to check reference rents, and compare with similar listings on SeLoger or PAP.
Read the Lease Before Signing
A legitimate lease in France follows a standard format and includes specific mandatory information. If the contract looks informal, is missing key clauses, or doesn’t match what you agreed verbally, don’t sign.
Continue reading: Learn how to read contracts, spot red flags, and protect your tenant rights with this guide to understand french leases.
What to Do If You Think You’re Being Scammed
If something feels wrong, trust your instincts. Here’s how to respond.
Stop Communication Immediately
Don’t send any more money, documents, or personal information. Scammers use urgency to pressure victims — slowing down is your first defense.
Gather Evidence
Screenshot everything: the listing, all messages, payment receipts, email headers. This documentation will be essential if you report the scam or try to recover funds.
Report the Scam
File reports with:
- The platform where you found the listing (Leboncoin, Facebook, SeLoger)
- SignalConso - the French government’s consumer fraud reporting tool
- Your local police station (commissariat) if you’ve lost money
Even if you can’t recover your money, reporting helps authorities track patterns and shut down repeat offenders.
Contact Your Bank
If you wired money, contact your bank immediately. Recovery is difficult with wire transfers, but acting fast gives you the best chance. If you paid by credit card, you may be able to dispute the charge.
How Flatigo Protects You
We built Flatigo because we’ve seen too many expats lose money, time, and peace of mind to preventable scams. Our job is to make sure you never have to wonder if a listing is real.
Every property we present has been verified: we confirm ownership, check that the landlord is who they claim to be, and ensure the lease complies with French law. We visit apartments in person — or arrange detailed video tours if you’re abroad, so you know exactly what you’re getting before you commit.
We also handle communication with landlords and agencies in French, which eliminates the awkward dynamic scammers exploit. When someone knows you have a professional team behind you, the red flags tend to disappear because fraudsters move on to easier targets.
You focus on your move. We handle the verification.
Conclusion
Rental scams in Paris are real, but they’re not inevitable. The vast majority follow patterns you can learn to recognize: prices too good to be true, landlords who can’t meet, pressure to pay before you’ve seen anything.
Know the rules. Verify before you trust. And if something feels off, it probably is.
With the right preparation or the right help you can navigate the Paris rental market safely and find a home you’ll love.
Ready to start your search? Talk to us — we’ll help you find a verified apartment without the stress.
