As a landlord, you work hard to provide safe, comfortable housing for your tenants. But in today's digital landscape, scammers are getting more creative in their attempts to exploit that trust. At Furnished Finder, we're here to help you stay one step ahead.
This guide is your go-to resource for recognizing common scam tactics, learning how to respond, and taking proactive steps to keep your rental business secure.
A recent scam attempt: what happened
Recently, several landlords in our community reported receiving suspicious messages from someone pretending to represent Furnished Finder. In this particular scam, the scammer sent a request for housing to a landlord, but inside the message the scammer falsely claimed that the landlord's account was restricted and prompted them to click a link to "verify" personal or banking details.
Here’s an example of what that message looked like:
Here's what made it suspicious:
The message came from someone claiming to be a tenant, “Cora”, but signed off as "Furnishedfinder Support."
There were spelling and formatting errors (including "Furnishedfinder" with no space).
The link included extra characters and didn’t lead to our official website – note the numbers before “.com”
These are clear red flags, and thanks to the vigilance of our community, we were able to act quickly.
Red flags to watch for
Scam messages may look convincing at first glance, but there are common signs that can help you identify and avoid them:
1. Spelling and grammar errors
Scammers often rush their messages. Misspellings, odd phrasing, or inconsistent formatting are warning signs.
2. Suspicious links
Hover over any link before clicking. If it looks strange or doesn’t lead to furnishedfinder.com, don’t click.
3. Mismatched names
If the name of the sender doesn’t match the signature or message content, proceed with caution.
4. Urgent language
Phrases like “verify immediately” or threats of account suspension are designed to pressure you into clicking without thinking.
5. Unusual requests
We will never ask for your password, banking details, or verification through private messages on our platform.
What to do if you receive a suspicious message
If something doesn’t feel right, here’s what we recommend:
Do not click any links in the message.
Report the message to our Trust & Safety team here.
Contact your bank if you shared any sensitive information.
Run a virus scan on your device, just to be safe.
Your awareness is your first line of defense. When in doubt, reach out to us directly through our official website.
How we help keep you safe
At Furnished Finder, we take safety seriously. That’s why we have a dedicated Trust & Safety team working behind the scenes every day. Their sole focus is protecting our community by:
Monitoring for suspicious activity
Removing fraudulent accounts
Educating users on how to stay safe
While we don’t vet travelers directly, we strongly encourage every landlord to conduct a tenant screening before approving any booking.
Start screening tenants (it’s free!)
Our platform offers free tenant screening tools for landlords to help you make informed decisions with confidence. With just a few clicks, you can:
Run background checks
Understand eviction history
Review credit history (soft credit check)
Your tenant will pay for the screening ($44.99) and it’s conducted through TransUnion. It’s quick, easy, and one of the most effective ways to protect your property.
Learn more about tenant screening (opens in new tab)
Final Thoughts
Scammers are always looking for new ways to target landlords, but staying informed is the best way to protect yourself. Bookmark this guide, share it with your network, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you see something suspicious.
Together, we can keep the Furnished Finder community safe, supportive, and scam-free.