Application red flags Richmond renters should know.

Every week, someone contacts us about a property they saw on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist that "the owner" is renting for an incredible price. The photos look familiar — because the photos are ours, scraped from our actual listing. The "owner" is overseas, can't show the property in person, and needs a deposit by Zelle to "hold" it.

Don't send the money. It's a scam. And it's everywhere right now.

Rental scams hit hardest in markets like Richmond where rents are climbing and inventory is tight. Scammers exploit people who are desperate to find a deal. Here's what real rentals look like — and what to watch for.

Real management companies act like businesses.

Legitimate landlords and property managers behave the way other professional businesses behave. That means:

• They have a real address and a real phone number. Search the company name. Look for a website, Google Business listing, reviews, photos of the office.
• They use business email addresses. A real Richmond property management company emails you from @thervagroup.com or similar — not Gmail, Yahoo, or "[email protected]".
• They show the property in person. Either by appointment with someone on staff or via lockbox/self-tour with verified ID. They don't say "I can't show it because I'm in Texas — just send me the deposit and I'll mail you the keys."
• They use proper applications. Real applications collect ID, employment verification, rental history, and credit/background check authorization. They charge a small application fee ($35-$75) — not "first month plus security in advance to hold the property."
• They use traceable payments. ACH from a verified bank account, certified check at signing, or a portal payment system. Never Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App for rental deposits.

The seven biggest red flags.

1. Price is significantly below market. If similar homes in the area rent for $2,200 and "the owner" is asking $1,500, something is wrong. Scammers undercut to get clicks.

2. The contact is overseas, deployed, or otherwise unreachable in person. "I'm a missionary in Africa." "I'm an oil rig worker in the Gulf." "I'm military stationed overseas and can't show it." All classic scammer cover stories.

3. The first contact wants payment before you've seen the property. No legitimate landlord asks for a deposit to "hold" a property you haven't toured.

4. Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Real management companies use ACH, checks, or a payment portal. Anyone asking you to wire money or send Zelle for a rental deposit is a scammer. Full stop.

5. The application is suspiciously simple. No background check. No income verification. Just "send me your name and the money."

6. They pressure you to decide immediately. "Three other people want this — send the deposit today or you'll lose it." Real landlords give you 24 to 48 hours to think.

7. The photos look professional but the listing is on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist only. Scammers steal photos from real listings and re-post them. If you can't find the same property on a legitimate property management website, walk away.

How to verify a real Richmond rental.

Before you send any money, do these three things:

Search the address on Google. Real rentals are usually listed on multiple platforms — apartments.com, Zillow, the property manager's own website. If the only place this listing exists is one Facebook post, that's a flag.

Look up the company name. Search "[company name] Richmond reviews." Real companies have Google reviews, BBB profiles, and a real website. Scammers have nothing.

Drive by the property. Sounds basic. It works. Look for a real "For Rent" sign with a real company name and phone number. Talk to the neighbors. They'll tell you who actually owns the place.

What to do if you've been scammed.

File a report with the Richmond Police Department non-emergency line. Report the listing to the platform (Facebook, Craigslist, etc). File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you sent money via Zelle or a wire, contact your bank immediately — sometimes it can be reversed if you act fast.

You're probably not getting the money back. But reporting the scam helps the next person who would have fallen for the same trick.

If you're looking for a real Richmond rental.

We list every available unit on our website at thervagroup.com/tenants. The list updates live from our management system. You can apply online, schedule a self-tour with verified ID, and pay your application fee via portal — all things a real management company does and a scammer can't.

If you've found a listing somewhere else and aren't sure if it's legitimate, send us a screenshot. We'd rather take five minutes to confirm a real rental than read about another Richmonder losing their savings to a scam.