High riskRental

Eviction Threat Scam

In this scam, a message impersonating your landlord or letting agent claims you are in arrears and threatens eviction unless you pay immediately to a new account, diverting your rent to a scammer.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Impersonation / payment diversion (rental)
Main red flag
An urgent eviction threat demanding payment to a new account.
What to do first
Verify with your landlord or agent through known contacts before paying.

How this scam works

In this scam, a message impersonating your landlord or letting agent claims you are in arrears and threatens eviction unless you pay immediately to a new account, diverting your rent to a scammer.

Rental scams advertise properties that are not available, not owned by the "landlord", or do not exist, to collect deposits and first-month rent from hopeful tenants. They pressure you to pay before viewing and to move money by transfer.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: An urgent eviction threat demanding payment to a new account. Verify with your landlord or agent through known contacts before paying.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Rent Payment Portal Scam and the Fake Letting Agent Scam. See the full Rental & Housing Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • An urgent eviction threat by message
  • A demand to pay to a new or changed account
  • Pressure to pay immediately
  • Contact from a slightly different number or email
  • Refusal to verify through normal channels

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'You are in arrears and face eviction. Pay immediately to our new account to avoid proceedings: [new bank details]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: An urgent eviction threat demanding payment to a new account.

The scale of it

Hundreds of millions
real-estate and rental fraud reported to the FBI runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars a year
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
$12.5B
total reported internet-crime losses in the US in 2023
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

How to protect yourself

  • Verify any arrears or payment change with your landlord or agent via known contacts
  • Use only the established, agreed payment method
  • Confirm new bank details through a second trusted channel
  • Report suspicious demands

Already responded? Do this now

  • If you paid the new account, contact your bank immediately to try to recover it
  • Alert your genuine landlord or agent
  • Report the fraud to your bank and authority
  • Keep all messages and records as evidence

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not pay arrears to a new account without verifying
  • Do not let eviction threats rush you
  • Do not change payment details on a message alone

Related scams to know

High risk Rental

Rent Payment Portal Scam

In this scam, tenants receive a fake rent payment portal link or 'updated landlord bank details', diverting their rent to a scammer instead of the genuine landlord or letting agent.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Rental

Fake Letting Agent Scam

A fake letting agent or 'property manager' posts convincing rental adverts, sometimes copied from real listings, then collects holding deposits, referencing fees or a first month's rent from several hopeful applicants at once. Once the money is in, the agent disappears and the property is never let. Verifying the agent is genuine and refusing to pay before viewing the property and seeing proper contracts are the strongest protections.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Bank & Payment

Invoice Redirection Scam

In this scam, fraudsters posing as a supplier or contractor email that their bank details have changed, so your next invoice payment is diverted to the scammer's account instead of the genuine business.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

How does this scam work?
Scammers impersonate your landlord or agent, claim arrears, and threaten eviction to pressure you into paying rent to their account.
How do I verify an eviction or arrears claim?
Contact your landlord or agent using known, trusted details, not those in the message, and confirm through a second channel before paying.
I paid the new account. What now?
Contact your bank immediately to try to recover it, alert your genuine landlord or agent, and report the fraud.
Can a landlord demand instant payment to a new account?
Genuine arrears are handled through proper notice and your established payment method, not urgent threats to pay a new account.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.