How do you avoid rental scams in Costa Rica in 2026?

Classic scripts include a “owner travelling in the US,” a below-market Escazú or Tamarindo unit, and a request to wire a reservation or full deposit through Western Union or crypto before any viewing. Another pattern recycles Encuentra24 or Facebook photos with a new WhatsApp number and a story that peak season means you must pay today. High-season Guanacaste demand makes fake short-stay bargains especially common: Living in Tamarindo and How much is rent.

Legitimate paths still feel process-heavy: Spanish contracts, deposit receipts, and sometimes larger upfront payments while residence is pending. That friction is a feature. Instant approval plus overseas payment is not: How to rent a home and Rental contracts and deposits.

View the property in person or on a live video that shows street signs, unit number, and matching finishes. Ask for proof the person can rent the unit (owner ID, management authorisation, or agency credentials). Cross-check the ask against Escazú and beach market bands; thirty percent below comparable stock without a clear reason is a warning: Escazú cost of living and Where to live in Costa Rica.

Pay deposits by local bank transfer or card through a verifiable channel after the Spanish lease is signed, not before. Prefer known Facebook group posters you can meet, reputable managers, or portals used as research plus in-person confirmation. Keep passport and later DIMEX ready for real landlords without emailing full scans to strangers: Get a DIMEX. If a deal only works while you are still abroad with no trusted local viewer, walk away.