Property Verification Order your PVR

Rental scam protection

Before you send a deposit, find out if your landlord is real.

Scammers copy real rental listings, post them at attractive prices and ask for a deposit before you ever see the inside. A Property Verification Report from VTL Consulting checks the property against public records so you know who you are really dealing with.

Order a Property Verification Report Reports from $39.99. Takes about a minute to request.
Money-back guaranteed seal

Report delivered or your money back.If we cannot complete your report, you get a full refund. See the refund policy.

Why renters get caught

The listing looks perfect. That is the point.

Fake landlords do not need to be clever. They take photos and details from a real listing, post the place for less than similar rentals nearby, and wait for someone who is worried about losing a good deal.

Then they create pressure. They say they are traveling, that other people are interested, or that the deposit must be paid today by wire, a payment app, gift cards or crypto. Once the money moves, it is very hard to get back.

A few minutes of checking before you pay is far cheaper than finding out afterward.

How the scam usually runs

  1. A real listing gets copiedPhotos and details are lifted from a property that is actually for rent or sale.
  2. A too-good price is postedThe rent is set low enough to bring in many replies fast.
  3. You are pushed to pay firstNo viewing, no lease review. Just a deposit to "hold" the unit.
  4. The poster disappearsThe messages stop, the listing comes down and the deposit is gone.
Video courtesy of ABC7 News Bay Area Watch on YouTube

A real case

This happened to a family in the Bay Area.

According to ABC7 News, a young couple on the Peninsula lost a $4,500 deposit to a fake landlord. The scammer even got them into the house using the keypad, which made everything seem legitimate.

Being let inside does not prove the person owns the home. That is the gap a Property Verification Report is built to close.

  • A walk-through is not proof of ownership.
  • Check the owner of record before you pay anything.
  • Be careful with any request for a deposit before you have verified the person.

Video and reporting credit: ABC7 News Bay Area (7 On Your Side). All rights belong to ABC7. The three points above are our general advice, not statements from the video. VTL Consulting is not affiliated with ABC7 News.

The Property Verification Report

Know who owns the place before you pay anyone.

The PVR gives you the facts you need to tell a genuine landlord from a fake one, written in plain language so you can decide with confidence.

Owner of record

Who really owns it

The property owner as shown in public property records for the address you are considering.

Identity check

Does the poster match

A direct comparison between the person advertising the rental and the owner of record.

Property facts

Does the listing add up

Basic details about the property to compare against what the listing promises.

Plain summary

A clear next step

A short summary of what we found and what to do about any red flags.

VTL Consulting
Property Verification Report
Report No. PVR-0000
Sample document
Prepared forSample Client
Subject property100 Example Street, Sampletown

Owner of record Section 1

Owner nameJ. Sample
SourcePublic property records

Does the poster match? Section 2

Listing contactJ. Sample
ResultMatch

Property facts Section 3

TypeSingle-family
Bed / bath3 / 2
Living area1,450 sq ft
Matches listingYes

Summary and next step Section 4

The person advertising this rental matches the owner of record. Still view the home in person and pay only by a traceable method.

Sample of the Names & Address report, for illustration only. Names, address and details are fictional.

Without a PVR

  • You trust a stranger's name and a few photos
  • You feel rushed to hand over a deposit
  • You find out it was fake after the money is gone

With a PVR

  • You see who the owner is on record
  • You can ask the poster better questions
  • You walk away from a fake before you pay

How it works

  1. Send the addressFill in the short form below with the rental you are interested in.
  2. We do the researchVTL Consulting looks into the property and the person listing it.
  3. You get your reportRead the findings, then decide whether to go ahead.

Choose your report

Three levels of checking. Pick the confidence you need.

Each level adds another public record that we compare with the person advertising the rental. The more records that agree, the better your chance of knowing the landlord is real.

Level 1

Names & Address

$39.99

One report for one rental address

What you get

  • Owner of record for your rental address
  • Check of whether the poster matches the owner
  • Key property facts to compare with the listing
  • Plain-language summary and next step

Level 2

Plus Grant Deed

$69.99

One report for one rental address

Everything in Level 1, plus

  • A copy of the most recent recorded grant deed
  • Shows who received title, when, and from whom
  • Lets you compare the owner's name on the deed with the poster
Most complete

Level 3

Plus Grant Deed & Deed of Trust

$99.99

One report for one rental address

Everything in Level 2, plus

  • A copy of the recorded deed of trust, if the property has one
  • Shows the borrower, the lender and the loan paperwork on record
  • A third record to match against the poster's name

In plain English

What are a grant deed and a deed of trust?

Document 1

Grant deed

A grant deed is the legal document that transfers ownership of a property from one person to another. The seller is called the grantor and the buyer is called the grantee.

It is recorded with the county, so it becomes part of the public record. A recent grant deed shows who the current owner is and how they came to own the home.

It tells you
Who owns the property and since when
Why it matters
A real owner's name appears on it
Document 2

Deed of trust

A deed of trust is the document a homeowner signs when they borrow money against a property, such as a mortgage or a refinance. In California it secures the loan to the home.

It is also recorded with the county. It names the borrower, the lender and a neutral third party called the trustee. Some homes have no loan, so not every property has one. If there is none on record, your report will say so.

It tells you
Who borrowed against the home, and from whom
Why it matters
It gives a second record with the owner's name

Why check all three?

Each record is another check, and we pull them from the county's public record, not from the person advertising the rental. When the owner's name agrees across the property record, the grant deed and the deed of trust, you have the best chance of knowing whether the landlord is real.

No report can guarantee an outcome. Some owners hold a property through a trust or a company, or use a property manager, so a different name is a reason to ask more questions and not proof of fraud.

Who is behind VTL Consulting
Name
Vince, Founder
California DRE license
#01208295
Service area
Sacramento area

About VTL Consulting

Built to keep renters from being scammed.

Rental scams cost families their deposits and leave them without a place to live. VTL Consulting exists to help renters avoid being scammed, by giving them the facts about a property before they sign or pay.

Every report is handled by a real person with a California Department of Real Estate license, DRE #01208295. You can look up that license number on the DRE's website.

Order your report

Check first. Sign second.

Do not hand over a security deposit on a promise. Tell us which rental you are looking at and we will start the verification.

  • Rental address you want checked
  • Your name, phone and email
  • That is everything we need to start

Order a Property Verification Report

All fields are required.

Choose your report
Rental address you want verified

By submitting, you agree that VTL Consulting may contact you by phone or email about this request. See our refund policy.

Refund policy

If we can't deliver your report, you don't pay.

We want you to order with confidence. Here is exactly when you get your money back.

You get a full refund if

  • We are unable to complete your report for the address you gave us
  • You cancel before we have started your report
  • You were charged twice for the same order
  • Your report has an error on our part that we cannot correct

Refunds do not apply when

  • Your report has been delivered and is accurate for the address you gave us
  • The result is not what you hoped for, such as the poster not matching the owner of record
  • The wrong address was entered by you and the report has already been completed

If something is wrong

  • Tell us within 7 days of receiving your report
  • We will correct a mistake on our part at no charge
  • If we cannot fix it, we refund you in full
How to request a refund. Email vtlconsulting1@gmail.com with your name and the rental address on your order. Approved refunds go back to your original payment method within 5 to 10 business days, depending on your bank.

A Property Verification Report is an informational product. A report that shows the person advertising a rental does not match the owner of record is a valid result and is not grounds for a refund.