Newly constructed homes on Sampson Avenue.
Ocean Beach, California – A San Diego resident looking for an affordable place to live lost thousands of dollars to a rental scam that highlights the growing dangers of online housing fraud.
Alexzandria Moya was searching for a home when she posted on the Nextdoor app about her housing needs. She was soon contacted by a woman offering a small one-and-a-half-bedroom house in Ocean Beach for just $1,300 per month—far below the area’s average rent of $2,500, according to Zumper rental market data.
Moya explained her financial situation to the woman, who then lowered the price to $1,000. She was even allowed to tour the property multiple times, guided by a woman identified as the scammer’s niece. After reviewing what seemed to be a legitimate lease, Moya decided to move forward with the rental.
Facing pressure to act quickly, Moya was told other renters were interested and that she needed to make an immediate cash payment. She handed over $2,500 in total—$1,500 in cash and $1,000 through Zelle. But when the move-in date kept getting delayed, she grew suspicious. Eventually, she was told she could not move in and would receive a refund, which never materialized.
When she attempted to call the woman, the number turned out to be a Google Voice number that went straight to voicemail.
“I was hurt. I cried about it,” Moya said. She has since filed a police report, but fears she may never recover her money.
Rental scams like this are on the rise. San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan noted that complaints about fraudulent listings have increased by 45% in the past two years, according to data from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
“These scams are really underreported. People often feel embarrassed and move on without reporting it. But it’s really important to report it,” Stephan emphasized.
Scammers frequently claim to be out of town, pressure renters to pay immediately, and use fake or duplicated listings. One way to avoid falling for a scam is to research public records to confirm the actual property owner. Paying with a credit card rather than cash or direct transfers can also offer some protection by allowing the transaction to be disputed.
A simple reverse image search of a listing’s photos can also reveal if the property has been copied from another legitimate rental site.
“If there are two listings for the same home, and one is way cheaper, that’s a red flag,” Stephan warned.
For Moya, the painful lesson is clear. “Your own place for $1,000—it’s too good to be true.”
The San Diego Police Department has confirmed that an investigation into Moya’s case is ongoing.
