The "agent" took my deposit and disappeared

The “agent” had a logo, a professional photo, and a listing in the neighbourhood I wanted.

They showed the unit, pushed a today-only holding deposit, and sent wiring instructions that looked like a brokerage template.

I Zelle’d the deposit to secure the application; replies slowed, then stopped.

When I walked into the named brokerage on the card, the front desk had never heard of the person or the email domain—one letter differed from the real firm’s address.

Fake agent scams impersonate licensed professionals; real brokers hold deposits in escrow and appear on regulator databases.

My money had gone to a personal account.

While I wired I assumed anyone with a suit and clipboard was regulated; I did not look up the license number on the state site first.

The real brokerage confirmed the person never worked there and opened a fraud case with their brand-protection team.

Every rental application afterward felt risky; I second-guessed legitimate agents until I built a checklist for license verification.

I verify agents on official regulator sites and call the office main line before any deposit leaves my account.

• Never send holding deposits to personal accounts or unverified emails.
• Report to the state real-estate commission and police.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.