The 5 Most Common Types of Applicant Fraud in Multifamily

Fraud is rising fast in multifamily. Operators are seeing more fake documents, more identity manipulation, and more creative tactics designed to slip through manual checks. The problem is not slowing down. It is accelerating.

Here are the five types of fraud showing up most often in today’s applicant traffic.

1. Fake Paystubs

This is the most common issue given that earning sufficient income is important to qualify for the apartment of your dreams, even when it’s based on a lie. Anyone can buy a fake paystub online in minutes. Many look polished enough to fool a quick visual review, and the AI tools that exist now are good enough to even fool most fraud detection services. Fraudsters rely on speed. They assume managers do not have time to inspect metadata, earning patterns, or document structure. That is why these get submitted so often.

2. Altered Bank Statements

Fraudsters lift real bank statements and tweak balances, deposits, employer names, or even account holder names. Manual review rarely catches these because edits are often made in less obvious ways. Metadata almost always exposes the manipulation, but again, the need to falsely qualify for the dream apartment – or worse – to sublet your unit for their own gain – is why altered statements are on the rise.

3. Manipulated IDs

From mismatched headshots to regenerated barcodes, ID fraud is growing. AI image tools make it easier to swap faces or generate new ones that look legitimate at first glance. A quick scan rarely tells the full story. Tools like Docuverus stop fraud before a lease is signed, keeping properties protected from real-world consequences.

4. Stolen or Non-Valid SSNs

Many applicants use SSNs that are outright fabricated, belong to children, deceased individuals, or stolen from people with strong credit histories. This creates an identity that passes superficial checks, and it’s as prevalent as it is because it’s the easiest way to evade a history of poor credit or a history of eviction. As rent climbs, so does SSN misuse. Operators need stronger validation to confirm real identity early in the process.

5. Employment Misrepresentation

This includes inflated income, fake offer letters, or unverifiable employers. Fraudsters often combine this with fake documents to create a complete but false picture. With remote work and gig economy roles increasing, this tactic is becoming more common.

Why This Matters

Fraud is evolving faster than manual screening can keep up. It is easier to create, easier to buy, and nearly impossible to detect without real technology behind you. This is why verification-first platforms like Docuverus are crucial. They read the true data inside every document, expose manipulation instantly, and stop bad actors before keys are handed over.