Scam photo checker for rentals and listings
Fake listings are built from real photos taken somewhere else. Upload a picture from an apartment ad, a Marketplace post or a car listing, and Sherlock shows where else the same image has been posted, often with a different price, address or seller.
What a copied listing photo looks like
These are the patterns that show up again and again in rental and marketplace scams.
Same photo, another city
The exact room or item appears in listings in other cities, often at a different price.
It's a real Airbnb or hotel
The apartment photos match a holiday rental, hotel or real-estate site that has no link to the person advertising it.
Manufacturer or stock images
A 'used' phone, bike or sofa is shown with the brand's official product photos instead of pictures of the actual item.
Older than the ad
The same photo was online months or years before this listing went up.
Many sellers, one picture
The image is reused across accounts with different names, which is typical of scam networks.
Edited or AI-made
Sherlock flags signs of editing or AI generation, such as warped lines, removed watermarks or rooms that look rendered.
How to check a listing in 3 steps
- 01
Save a listing photo
Screenshot or save the main photo of the ad. Interior shots and close-ups work best.
- 02
Upload it to Sherlock
Open Sherlock in your browser and upload it. You don't need an account for your first search.
- 03
Compare what you find
Check matching listings for different addresses, prices or seller names before you pay a deposit.
Common scams it helps you catch
Rental and apartment scams
An apartment that's cheap, available today and only shown in photos is the classic setup. Check the photos before you send a deposit or 'holding fee'.
Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and eBay
Check phones, consoles, furniture and bikes that are priced well below what they should be.
Car and motorbike listings
Scammers copy photos from dealer sites and old ads, then ask for payment before a viewing.
Pets, tickets and holiday homes
Puppy, concert-ticket and vacation-rental scams all rely on photos lifted from somewhere else.
What a photo search can't tell you
A copied photo is a strong warning sign, but it doesn't prove the listing is fake: an honest seller might use the manufacturer's photo. No match doesn't prove a listing is real either. Ask for a new photo with a note showing today's date or your name, view the place or item in person, and only pay through methods with buyer protection.
More ways to check
Scam photo checker questions
How do I know if a rental listing is fake?
Warning signs include a price well below the area's average, a landlord who can't show the place in person, pressure to pay a deposit before viewing, and payment by wire transfer, crypto or gift cards. If the photos also appear in another listing, treat it as a scam until proven otherwise.
Can I reverse image search a Facebook Marketplace photo?
Yes. Save or screenshot the photo from the listing and upload it to Sherlock. It searches the web for the same image and visually similar ones.
What should I do if the photo appears in another listing?
Don't pay. Ask the seller to send a new photo of the item or room with a handwritten note, and report the listing to the platform if they can't.
Is it a scam if the seller uses the manufacturer's photo?
Not always, but it means you haven't seen the actual item. Ask for a photo of the real one, including serial numbers or damage, before you pay.
Does the seller find out I checked?
No. Sherlock searches for the image, not the person, and nobody is notified.
Is the scam photo checker free?
One search a day is free. After that, each search uses one credit.