Safety & security
Roomies puts a lot of time and effort into keeping the community as safe and secure as possible. The majority of our members are wonderful friendly caring people like you. However, it's still important to be alert and follow our safety tips.
Protecting yourself
Never transfer money until you have viewed the property and met the roommates
Don't feel pressured to put money down beforehand. If something is too good to be true, proceed with extreme caution.
Use the Roomies messaging system
Until you're comfortable sharing personal contact details you can use the free Roomies messaging system which can keep you up to date with listing changes. Remember not to share sensitive information like photo ID or your SSN over messages.
Meet in public or take a friend
It's totally OK to take a friend with you when meeting people for the first time, or check-in with a friend before and after a viewing if going alone. If you feel uneasy or uncomfortable about a situation, call a friend and remove yourself.
Following these guidelines will help ensure you have a safe and secure experience on Roomies. If you're unsure, report suspicious activity or other concerns to our support team
Things to look out for
In addition to the security systems on Roomies it is important to remain vigilant. Scammers can be very convincing you to send money, bank account information or other personal information before viewing the property.
Requesting money
Think twice before handing over money. Never transfer any funds via Western Union, MoneyGram, or any other bank transfer apps, (for example Zelle or CashApp) to anyone you have not met in person. Scammers may urge you to send payments to hold the room before viewing and then promise to send the keys after a transfer is made. Consider this a Big Red Flag.
Too good to be true
Be wary of any rental listings that are at below-market price, especially If you are unable to view the property in person.
"Out of town" or "overseas"
Scammers may claim that they are out of town or overseas and there is no one else that can show you the property, but they will mail you the keys after a deposit is made and promise a refund if you don’t like what you see. They may also suggest that you visit the property from the outside and look inside the window.
"Send me a photo of your ID"
It is common for scammers to send a selfie photo of a person holding an ID, and then request that you send them a photo of yourself doing the same. This is how they try to gain the user’s trust and attempt to steal your Identity. Don’t be afraid to say you would prefer to show your ID in person instead. Remember, if you cannot meet in person, you can request to do a live video chat.
Overpaid check
If a person sends you a check or a money order that exceeds your deposit amount and request that you return the over-payment immediately, this an attempt to receive the “over paid” amount before you realize the check was counterfeit.
Sense of urgency or pressure
Scammers have a very short window before their victim starts to become suspicious, and they know this. They will often create a great amount of pressure for you to send money, documentation or personal details. Some of the tactics they use include threats that another person is going to get the property or creating a false sense of obligation on your end (“you promised you’d send me the money today”).
Remember to report anything that doesn't seem right so we can help protect you and the Roomies community.
Verifications
To help Roomies maintain a safe and genuine community we provide a number of available verifications.
Mobile verification (required)
Roomies requires that every user has a verified phone number to use their account.
ID verification
Roomies uses Stripe to allow users to verify their ID with a selfie to show they are who they say they are.
Credit checks
Users can undergo a credit check with Certn to share their financials with others.
Background checks
Users can undergo a background check with Certn to share their history with others.
Credit checks
Link your social accounts like Facebook, Instagram, X & Spotify to share your online presence.