By Ethan Faverino |

As military families navigate permanent change of station (PCS) moves and renters search for new housing, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning consumers to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams that can result in the loss of thousands of dollars and sensitive personal information.

The agency says scammers often target people facing tight deadlines or major life transitions, including military members relocating on short notice.

Fraudsters commonly use fake rental listings, gift card payment schemes, cryptocurrency scams, and wire transfer requests to steal money before victims realize they have been deceived.

According to the FTC, rental scams remain one of the most common fraud schemes. Some scammers create listings for properties that do not exist or are not actually available for rent, while others copy legitimate listings, steal photos and descriptions, and report them with altered contact information. Many fraudulent listings advertise rent well below market value to attract prospective tenants.

One common warning sign is when a supposed landlord refuses to allow an in-person viewing, often claiming they are out of town or otherwise unavailable.

The FTC advises consumers to be cautious of anyone who pressures them to make a quick decision or demands payments before they have an opportunity to verify the property.

The agency recommends renters search the property’s address online to see whether it appears elsewhere under a different owner, management company, or rental price. Consumers who are unable to visit a property should have somebody who they trust tour it and verify it exists.

Military members can also seek assistance from relocation or housing referral offices at their new installation to identify legitimate housing options and avoid known scams.

The FTC also warns renters to protect their personal information during the application process. Fraudsters may request Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, pay stubs, or screenshots of credit card reports under the guise of processing an application.

Payment methods are another major red flag.

The FTC says legitimate landlords and businesses will not require tenants to pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. These payment methods function similarly to cash, making it extremely difficult or impossible to recover funds after they are sent.

Fraudsters often direct victims to purchase gift cards from major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Amazon, Apple, or CVS and may even remain on the phone while the victim buys and loads the cards. Once the victim provides the card number and PIN, the scammer can quickly drain the balance.

The agency is also warning consumers about cryptocurrency-related scams, which have become increasingly common as digital currencies gain popularity.

Unlike credit card purchases, cryptocurrency transactions generally do not include legal consumer protections or chargeback rights. Once crypto is transferred, it usually cannot be removed unless the recipient voluntarily returns it.

The FTC also warns that wiring money through services such as Western Union, MoneyGram, or Ria is essentially the same as sending cash. Once the funds are collected, recovering the money is typically impossible, and identifying the individual who received the transfer is often extremely difficult.

Consumers should never wire money to someone they have not met in person, anyone claiming to represent a government agency, or anyone demanding immediate payment.

To reduce the risk of becoming a victim, the FTC encourages consumers to research landlords and property management companies by searching online for reviews, complaints, or reports of scams.

Renters should compare prices with similar properties in the area, verify ownership records when possible, and obtain copies of rental contracts before sending deposits.

Anyone who discovers fraudulent rental listings should report it to the website where it was posted, the FTC, and their state’s attorney general’s office.

Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.