A fake Zillow listing for a Fullerton bungalow cost one would-be renter $2,575, even though the actual owner was still living inside and had no plans to move. The case is a sharp reminder that in Southern California’s expensive housing market, a below-market rental can be more than a lucky break—it can be bait.
The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that Pam Yeager, 53, was searching for an affordable home near downtown Fullerton when she found the listing. The ad disappeared after about a day, but a supposed landlord soon contacted her directly and continued the pitch after the Zillow post was gone.
How The Fake Fullerton Rental Hooked Her
As detailed by the Los Angeles Times, the scammer sent Yeager a Google Drive video that had been copied from an earlier real estate tour, then requested a $75 application fee. After telling her the application was approved, the person demanded a $2,500 security deposit, which Yeager sent through Zelle over several days.
The pressure campaign did not stop there. After receiving the deposit, the supposed landlord requested the first month’s rent and a signed lease; when Yeager asked for her money back, the call suddenly ended and the supposed landlord stopped responding.
Rental Fraud Complaints Hit A Three-Year High
The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center report recorded more than 12,000 real estate fraud complaints, a three-year high, with reported losses reaching about $275 million. The report also identified artificial intelligence as an emerging factor in online fraud, although the Fullerton scheme described in the case relied on copied property footage and a convincing back-and-forth with the target.
The broader pattern is increasingly familiar across California: scammers lift photos and descriptions from legitimate listings, repost them at attractive prices and push renters toward quick payments through Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, wire transfers or cryptocurrency. Orange County investigators told the Times that burner accounts, hard-to-trace payment platforms and overseas operators can make these cases difficult to pursue, even when victims report them.
Red Flags Renters Should Not Ignore
Zillow’s rental-safety guidance flags requests for payment before an in-person viewing, unusually low rent, landlords who cannot meet and demands for wire transfers or other difficult-to-recover payments. A legitimate-looking video, application form or lease is not proof that the person offering the property actually owns or manages it.
Renters should verify the address through an established property manager or real estate office, compare the listing with other platforms and meet the owner or agent before turning over money or sensitive information. If cash has already been sent, the FBI advises victims to contact their financial institution and local law enforcement quickly, preserve messages and payment records, and file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
