How to Avoid Rental Scams When Apartment Hunting in Columbus, Ohio
Searching online is the easiest way to find an apartment, and it is also where scammers look for renters. Fake listings can look polished, and the pressure to act fast makes them work. A few simple checks can keep your money and personal information safe.
How Common Are Rental Scams?
According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers filed nearly 65,000 rental scam reports between 2020 and mid-2025, with reported losses of about $65 million. The FTC notes that most scams go unreported, so the real number is likely higher. About half of the people who reported a rental scam in the 12 months ending June 2025 said it began with a fake Facebook ad, and adults ages 18 to 29 were about three times more likely than others to report losing money.
Common Warning Signs
• The rent is far below similar homes in the area, which is often bait to create urgency.
• The "landlord" says they are out of town and cannot show the home, but will mail keys after you pay.
• You are asked to send money before seeing the property in person or on a live video tour.
• You are asked to pay by wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a payment app.
• You are asked for your Social Security number, ID, or pay stubs before you have even toured.
• The listing copies photos and details from another ad but lists different contact information.
How to Verify a Listing
• Search the address online. Check whether it appears elsewhere with different prices or contacts, or is listed for sale.
• Compare the rent with typical prices. The Columbus citywide average was about $1,352 as of late September 2026, with one-bedrooms near $1,213 and two-bedrooms near $1,426.
• Tour in person or by live video walkthrough that shows the building and the specific unit.
• Confirm the contact information against the community's official website and phone number.
• Read the lease carefully before you sign, and keep copies of everything.
Protect Your Personal Information
Share sensitive documents only after you have verified the community and are ready to apply, and only through a secure, official application process. Be cautious of anyone who sends you to an unfamiliar credit check website or asks for screenshots of your credit score.
What to Do If You Think You've Been Scammed
• Stop communicating and do not send more money.
• Contact your bank or payment provider right away to report the transaction.
• Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the platform where you found the listing.
• Monitor your credit and consider a fraud alert if you shared personal information.
Verifying Kingshill Court
The simplest way to confirm a Kingshill Court Apartments listing is to go directly to our official website, kingshillcourtapts.com, or contact our leasing office at 614-885-7444 or leasing@kingshillcourtapts.com. Our friendly, professional on-site team is happy to schedule a tour of the Woodward Park community, where rents range from $905 to $1,575 a month. Current residents pay rent and submit service requests online through the resident portal.
Come See Kingshill Court for Yourself
Kingshill Court Apartments is located in the Woodward Park neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, close to I-71 and I-270 and right on the COTA bus line. Our friendly, professional on-site team is ready to help you find the floor plan that fits your budget and your life.
• Call or text us: 614-885-7444
• Email leasing: leasing@kingshillcourtapts.com
• Visit us online: kingshillcourtapts.com
Pay rent and submit maintenance requests online, any time — leasing at Kingshill Court is built to be easy from application to move-in.
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