Why Military Families Are Especially Vulnerable to Rental Scams During PCS Season

Finding a new place to live has always come with a little uncertainty, especially for military families. Decisions come from comparing neighborhoods, checking what fits the budget, and hoping that the online photos of those rentals actually match what you’ll see in person.

In the midst of all this uncertainty, rental scams remain a widespread risk as more renters search for housing through websites, social media, and messaging platforms. And it doesn't help that there are a lot of scammers pretending to be property managers or homeowners, and somehow, they have gotten very good at it.

For most military families, this is especially hard to spot because a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is very different from a typical move. Military families often have to secure housing while preparing for a move with firm reporting dates. They have limited time, and the pressure to find a home while relying on online listings, virtual tours, emails, and phone calls is very high.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned that rental scams continue to affect renters across the country, including military families who frequently search for housing from a distance.

Here’s what you can do to avoid being a target of rental scammers, how to know their tactics, and what to do before signing the lease.

PCS Season Creates the Perfect Opportunity for Rental Scammers

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) season is a mix of excitement and stress, but getting there requires weeks, or even months, of planning. There’s paperwork, a lot of packing and unpacking, school enrollment, utility transfers, and so much more. Even saying goodbye to a community you’ve called home is a part of it, so yes, it’s literally a mix of emotions.

Since military relocations don’t leave much room for delays, it’s always required to move and plan faster. That means military families have to search for rentals hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

Scammers know that the urgency military families have can affect anyone. They know people are likely to make quick decisions when they are balancing multiple responsibilities and working toward a deadline. During PCS season, military families are often doing exactly that.

“That urgency can make it difficult to thoroughly vet a listing before making a decision. Families are often asked to rely on virtual tours, online listings, and digital payments without being able to visit a property in person. When you're trying to get settled before a move, especially while staying within your housing allowance, it's understandable why fraudulent listings can be convincing,” Chief Impact Officer of Blue Star Families, Dr. Lindsay Knight says.

They don’t have a chance to walk through neighborhoods or tour homes in person. They can only depend on online listings, virtual tours, text messages, and video calls to make important decisions. That’s what’s super hard about PCS, and those circumstances are the perfect target of rental scammers.

Often, scammers post properties that appear clean and well-maintained, with a rent just low enough to grab attention. They may also have a believable explanation for why they can’t meet in person. In many cases, they don’t seem suspicious at all, which is why rental scammers continue to succeed.

With more people searching for a home and fewer affordable housing options available, it becomes easier for scammers to convince people they need to act immediately or risk losing the property. Therefore, it’s always important to know how to avoid being a target and to recognize the signs.

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Challenges Military Families Face During a PCS

Dr. Knight says military families often describe feeling caught between two priorities: finding housing quickly enough to stay on schedule and ensuring the property is legitimate. Those goals don't always feel compatible when reporting dates are approaching, and desirable rentals disappear within days.

“Military families often don't have the luxury of time. PCS moves come with firm reporting dates; families may be searching for housing from across the country, or even overseas, and desirable rentals can disappear quickly. At the same time, many are already managing a long checklist of moving logistics, employment transitions, school enrollment, and childcare,” she explained.

The pressure military families have doesn’t only stop with those two priorities. They also need to make financial decisions throughout the move. According to Knight, affordable and reliable housing remains one of the biggest concerns military families share with the organization during PCS moves.

Housing costs have continued to rise, while fewer active-duty families say their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) fully covers their expenses. In Blue Star Families' 2024 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, released in February 2025, only 26% of active-duty family respondents said their housing costs were fully covered by BAH, compared with 42% in 2020.

The growing financial pressure makes finding affordable housing even more important. Families are not just looking for a nice, comfortable home, but they also have to stay within their housing allowance. Scammers know that, and they create listings that seem almost perfect for military families.

The challenges extend beyond finances. As Knight notes,

“There's also an emotional toll. A PCS is already a period of uncertainty, and discovering you've been scammed can create additional stress at a time when families are trying to establish stability in a new community, enroll children in school, or prepare for a service member to report for duty.”

Cyber Fraud and Identity Theft Are Part of the Risk

There’s so much communication that happens online, and so many military families naturally exchange sensitive information through emails, websites, messaging apps, and even online forms.

“Beyond housing, we also know military families face elevated risks of identity theft and cyber fraud because of the realities of military life: frequent moves, heavy reliance on digital communication, and often coordinating logistics from different locations during deployments or TDYs,” Dr. Knight says.

Blue Star Families' 2022 Military Family Lifestyle Survey found that 7% of active-duty family respondents said they or their spouse had experienced identity theft during the previous year, while 9% reported cyber fraud.

Rental scams often combine both risks, asking families to share personal information and send money before they've had the chance to verify that a property is real.

How Do Rental Scammers Fool Even Careful Renters?

Today, scammers put a lot of effort into making their listings appear legitimate. They copy photos from real homes, they write detailed descriptions, and even spend on advertisements on social media platforms that millions of people use every day. That’s how eager they are to get their tactics to succeed.

Here are the most common tactics from rental scammers:

1. Creating a false sense of urgency: A scammer might say they've already received several applications or that another family is ready to rent the home unless a deposit is sent immediately. This creates a sense of urgency, pushing you to secure a deposit.
2. Asking for payment: Scammers ask for payment before you've had a chance to verify the property. They are going to be very pushy in saying that the deposit is refundable or that it's necessary to hold the rental while paperwork is completed.
3. Pretending to be a property manager or homeowner: Some scammers pose as landlords or property managers to make the listing appear legitimate. Sometimes they may use overly convincing stories about why they can't meet in person. Typically, they would just encourage you to rely only on photos, emails, or virtual conversations before sending payment.

Technology can also make rental-related fraud appear more convincing.

According to Snappt’s 2024 Fraud Report, AI-enhanced tools can create or alter realistic financial and employment documents, making false identities and stories harder to recognize. Military families should verify everything independently rather than relying on professional-looking documents alone.

The important thing to remember is that these scams are very smart and can fool anyone. It’s frustrating if you have fallen for one, but it isn't a sign that someone wasn't paying attention. Take it as a reminder that scammers have become much better at creating believable situations, especially during stressful life events like a PCS.

How to Protect Yourself from Rental Scammers

Rental scams are becoming more sophisticated, but the good news is that there are still practical steps you can take to protect yourself. None of them guarantee you'll never encounter a scam, but together, these steps can make your decisions smarter and much harder for fraudsters to succeed. The more you are aware of it, the safer you can be.

Before Contacting a Landlord

It's tempting to reach out as soon as you find a rental that checks every box, especially if affordable homes are disappearing quickly. Before sending that first message, spend a few extra minutes researching the property and definitely take a close look at the listing itself.

Now, search the address online. If it appears on multiple websites with different prices or contact information, and if the same home is listed by several people, that's worth investigating further. You wouldn’t want the same listing pop up on another website, as there’s a high chance it’s a fake listing.

Before Touring a House

If you're unable to visit the property in person, ask for a live virtual tour instead of relying only on photos. A legitimate property manager should usually be available and able to arrange a video call to walk through the home and answer your questions in real time. If they refuse to do so, then that’s the first sign.

If they can do a live video, then much better! Ask detailed questions about the lease, neighborhood, utilities, parking, or maintenance procedures. Scammers often avoid specifics or give inconsistent answers because they don't actually have access to the property.

Before Sending the Payment

This is the point at which many rental scams succeed, which is why it's also the moment to be most cautious.

Never let anyone pressure you into sending money immediately because they're afraid another renter will take the property. Remember that a legitimate landlord may have other applicants, but they shouldn't discourage you from verifying the property before making a payment.

Be especially careful if you're asked to pay by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or payment apps that don't offer buyer protection. The Federal Trade Commission warns that these payment methods are frequently used by scammers because they're difficult to recover once the money has been sent.

What to Do If You Think You've Been Targeted

Even with careful planning or knowing their tactics, it is still possible to fall for a scam. If something suddenly feels off, trust that instinct and pause before moving forward.

Stop communicating with the suspected scammer and avoid sending any additional money or personal information. Save emails, text messages, receipts, screenshots, and copies of the listing, as these can help if you decide to file a report.

The FTC also encourages consumers to report rental scams through reportfraud.ftc.gov, which helps investigators identify patterns and take action against fraudulent activity. Reporting what happened not only protects you, but may also help prevent another military family from experiencing the same situation.

Use Available Military Resources

Military families have something many other renters don't. They have a strong support network. As Dr. Knight said,

“Don't feel like you have to navigate the move alone.”

Dr. Knight added that,

“Taking one extra step to verify a listing can save significant financial stress and give your family greater peace of mind during an already demanding transition. That’s especially important at a time when military families tell us rising housing costs are one of their biggest quality-of-life concerns.”

Rental Scammers Are All Over the Internet

The numbers show why rental scams have become a growing concern for military families and renters across the country.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, about half of all reported rental scams in the 12 months ending June 2025 started with a fake listing on Facebook, while another 16% began on Craigslist.

Between January 2020 and June 2025, the FTC recorded nearly 65,000 reports of rental scams, with reported losses exceeding $65 million. Many victims never file a report, so experts believe the real numbers are likely higher.

You Don’t Have to Carry the Burden Alone

PCSing is not easy for military families, and nobody expects it to be. Dr. Lindsay Knight encourages military families not to go through the process alone.

Installation housing offices, chains of command, military spouse networks, and organizations like Blue Star Families are all valuable resources that can help families with their PCS move.

These resources can help verify listings, share their knowledge about local housing markets, and can even connect you with people who understand the challenges of a PCS.

Resources are continually improving and available to help military families stay one step ahead, even as scammers continue to develop new strategies. Every military move marks the beginning of a new chapter, so take those few extra moments to make informed decisions today. By doing so, you ensure that the next chapter begins with the security, stability, and peace of mind every military family deserves.