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Verify before you wire

Last year, rental fraud was the third most dangerous scam in Canada.

We built this tool because too many physicians arrive in Vancouver and lose deposits before they've unpacked. Free to use. No sign-up. Real signals.

Paste any rental URL. We'll surface fraud signals in seconds.

Works best with RentFaster, Rentals.ca, Apartments.com, PadMapper. Craigslist and Facebook block automated tools — try the same listing on an aggregator instead, or use the manual checklist below.

Or check manually — 12-flag checklist

Check every red flag you see in the listing or interaction. The banner below updates as you check.

0 of 12 flags checked

This checklist surfaces signals you can spot yourself. It does not replace document checks, ownership verification, or property-manager registry searches — those require pulling actual records. If you'd rather have someone do that work for you, see below.

The three Vancouver patterns

Three patterns account for most rental fraud in Vancouver and the lower mainland right now. Each is documented below with red flags, real-case examples, and how to verify before any money moves. This is what we look for when we verify properties for our own clients.

Pattern 1

The bait-and-switch

A Vancouver case documented by liv.rent. The scammer copies photos from a property currently listed for sale on MLS and posts the unit as a rental on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist at 20 to 30 percent below market. The listed owner is "out of town for work" and sends a "relative" to show the unit. The relative collects an e-transfer deposit before any paperwork. The relative does not return. The real owner never knew the unit was advertised.

Red flags in this pattern

  • Rent priced 20 to 30 percent below comparable Vancouver units.
  • Owner is "out of town" and a third party shows the unit.
  • E-transfer deposit requested before paperwork.
  • Listing photos appear in reverse-image search on an active MLS for-sale listing.
  • No business email or property management company in the loop.

Pattern 2

The roommate overpayment

An emerging pattern. A scammer agrees to rent a room in your apartment, then sends a cheque for more than first-month-plus-deposit and asks you to "send back the difference" by e-transfer. You send the difference. The cheque bounces a week later. You owe the difference plus your bank's NSF fee, and the room is never occupied.

Red flags in this pattern

  • The cheque amount exceeds what was agreed.
  • Request to refund the difference by e-transfer before the cheque clears.
  • Pressure to act before you can confirm the funds with your bank.
  • Communication only via WhatsApp or personal email.

Pattern 3

The international student fraud

In 2024, 35 international students in the Kitchener area collectively lost $40,000 to a single Facebook Marketplace fraud ring targeting students who could not view properties before paying. The pattern was the same as the bait-and-switch, scaled by volume. Newcomer physicians arriving without prior viewings sit in the same vulnerability profile.

Red flags in this pattern

  • Listing on Facebook Marketplace with no verified property management contact.
  • Tenant cannot view the unit in person or refuses a video walkthrough.
  • Full deposit demanded by e-transfer before any signed lease.
  • Multiple identical listings for different units traced to one contact.

Two ways we can take this off your plate

Verify a specific listing — $199

You've found a unit you want. We pull BC Land Title, verify the registered owner against whoever you're being asked to deal with, run an ID check on the landlord, and deliver a signed verification report within 48 hours. One unit, one report, one decision.

Verify a listing →

Skip the search entirely

We handle every property in your search, vet every landlord, prepare every application, and present you with a shortlist of pre-verified units. From Essentials ($2,499 pre-arrival package) to Concierge (Vancouver retainer — $3,000 onboarding plus $1,000/month for ongoing support), we run the gauntlet so families don't have to figure out Canada from a different time zone.

See packages →

What verified looks like

A legitimate Vancouver rental interaction looks unremarkable. Communication arrives from a business email at the property management company's domain, not a personal Gmail or Outlook address. The property manager identifies the company by name and the unit by civic address. Replies come during business hours.

You receive the lease agreement in full before any deposit is requested. You can read it, ask questions, and have it reviewed. The deposit is handled by certified cheque or through the property management company's secure tenant portal, never by personal e-transfer.

The property manager is registered with the BC Real Estate Council and that registration is verifiable in the public registry. The property tax assessment for the unit is accessible at BC Assessment, also a public record, and the address on the assessment matches the unit being rented.

Five concrete signals to confirm before money moves: a business email at the property management company's domain, a full lease in your hands before any deposit, deposit via certified cheque or a secure portal, the property manager listed in the BC Real Estate Council registry, and a BC Assessment record that matches the unit's address.

If it's already happened

E-transfer reversals are nearly impossible after 30 minutes. Contact your bank's fraud line first; then report.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a Vancouver rental listing is fake?
Most fakes share three patterns: priced 20–30% below comparable units, owner unavailable for in-person showing, and a deposit requested before any paperwork. Our free drop-a-link tool surfaces signals across 12 known red flags. The full pattern guide and manual checklist are on this page.
What should I do if I think I've already been scammed?
Contact your bank's fraud line first — e-transfer reversals are nearly impossible after 30 minutes. Then file with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) and Vancouver Police non-emergency (604-717-3321). For real estate professional misconduct, file a complaint with BCFSA.
Is the Baytik Canada scam check tool really free?
Yes. The drop-a-link analyzer and the 12-flag manual checklist on this page are completely free with no sign-up. Baytik Secure is our paid verification service — $199 for a single property with BC Land Title pull, registered owner check, ID verification, and a signed report within 48 hours.
Why does the analyzer fail on some Craigslist or Facebook URLs?
Those platforms detect automated requests and return errors. Aggregator sites like RentFaster and PadMapper typically index the same listings and accept our analyzer — try the same unit there. The 12-flag manual checklist on this page works for any listing regardless of source.
How fast does Baytik Secure verify a listing?
48 hours from payment to signed verification report. We pull BC Land Title records, verify the registered owner's identity against whoever you're being asked to deal with, and run an ID check on the landlord. The report includes everything you need to make an informed decision before any money moves.
What's the difference between Baytik Secure and Baytik Canada concierge?
Baytik Canada concierge offers two settlement packages. Essentials at $2,499 covers pre-arrival preparation, identity verification, Document Package preparation, and PM verification on shortlisted properties. Settlement at $3,999 in Vancouver or $3,499 in Toronto adds first-30-days post-arrival support — driver's licence coordination, banking setup, school registration — and broader PM verification, with in-person property viewings included for Vancouver clients. Vancouver also offers a Concierge tier on a $3,000 onboarding plus $1,000/month retainer (3-month minimum) for families needing ongoing support beyond the initial settlement window. Baytik Secure verifications are part of every package.