How to avoid sublet scams in Ann Arbor
The common student housing scams in Ann Arbor and the exact red flags to watch for, so your UMich sublet search doesn't cost you a deposit.
5 min read · Updated August 30, 2026
Why students get targeted
Student housing is a scammer's dream: urgent timelines, people new to renting, big deposits, and a lot of deals done sight-unseen over the summer. Ann Arbor is no exception. Every year UMich students lose deposits to listings that were never real.
The red flags
Almost every scam shares the same tells. If you see these, slow down:
- They want a deposit before you can see the place or meet
- Payment by gift card, crypto, Zelle to a stranger, or wire
- Price is way below everything comparable
- They're "out of town" and can't show it in person
- Pressure to decide right now or "lose it"
- Photos look stolen (reverse-image-search them)
- They dodge a video call or won't verify identity
How to protect yourself
See the place, in person or at least over a live video call where they walk you through it. Verify the person is actually a student. Never pay with anything irreversible; a credit card gives you recourse, a wire does not. And get the agreement in writing before any money moves.
This is the whole reason Wroomly exists in the shape it does: students verify with their UMich Google login and carry a blue check on their profile and their listings. A scammer with a fake listing has no way to earn that check. Where you see one, the person on the other end is a real, named U of M student.
If you think you've been scammed
Stop sending money immediately. If you paid by credit card, call your bank about a chargeback. Report the listing to wherever you found it and to the FTC. And tell other students. Scammers reuse the same listings across Facebook groups and GroupMe every season.
Frequently asked questions
What are the red flags of a sublet scam?
The classic tells: a deposit demanded before you can see the place, payment by wire, gift card, crypto, or Zelle to a stranger, a price far below comparable listings, a "landlord" who is out of town and can't show it, pressure to decide immediately, and photos that fail a reverse image search.
How can I verify a sublet listing in Ann Arbor is real?
See the place in person or on a live video call where the person walks you through it. Reverse-image-search the photos. Check that the lister is a real student. On Wroomly, verified UMich students carry a blue check next to their name. Never move money before the agreement is in writing.
What should I do if I got scammed on a sublet?
Stop sending money immediately. If you paid by credit card, call your bank and ask about a chargeback. Report the listing to the platform where you found it and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Warn other students. Scammers reuse the same fake listings every season.