Every year, students head home for summer break — and many of them try to sublease their apartments to save (or make) some extra cash. But scammers know this too… and they’re taking full advantage.

One common scam we’re seeing? Fake subtenants who use payment confirmation screenshots and “bank verification” tricks to steal money.

Here’s how it works:

A student lists their apartment for sublease.

They get a message from someone claiming to be another student — often with a believable profile — who’s ready to rent right away.

The scammer offers to send a deposit, and follows up with a screenshot of a payment confirmation. But here’s the catch: they say the payment is “pending” and ask the student to send money back in order to “verify the account” or “activate the transfer.”

Once the student sends the money, the scammer vanishes.

🚨 Red Flags to Watch For

• Requests to send money to “verify” or “unlock” a transfer
  
• Sketchy screenshots of payments that haven’t actually hit your account
  
• Communication that only happens through DMs or unverified apps
  
• Pressure to act quickly without a formal lease or ID check

How to Protect Yourself

Never send money to “activate” or “verify” a payment. If it hasn’t hit your account, it doesn’t exist.

Use trusted platforms with identity verification and built-in protection.

Reverse-image search profile pictures or usernames. Scammers often reuse stolen photos.

Get everything in writing. A formal sublease agreement adds a layer of protection — and can scare off scammers who prefer low-commitment cons.

If You’ve Been Scammed…

You’re not alone — and there are steps you can take. Visit our Resources page to:

• Identify what kind of scam you experienced
  
• Report it to the right platforms
  
• Get tips on possible recovery options
  

Don’t ghost it. Get help.  Stay one step ahead. Follow @gcacyberflex and subscribe to our free scam text alerts to protect yourself and your friends.