How to Identify Fake ESA Letters Online: Key Warning Signs for 2025

7 Red Flags of Fake ESA Letter

These seven red flags are the strongest indicators that an ESA letter is fake, incomplete, or legally invalid.

1. No Licensed Mental Health Professional Listed

Every legitimate ESA letter includes full provider details. If the letter lists only a first name, uses vague titles like “ESA Expert,” or provides a license number that cannot be found in your state’s licensing database, it is not valid. 

Fake ESA services often hide or fake licensing information because the person signing the letter is not legally allowed to issue ESA recommendations.

2. Instant Approval or No Evaluation Required

Any site that issues an ESA letter without speaking to you or that guarantees approval in minutes is selling fake paperwork. 

The FHA requires an actual mental health evaluation. Even telehealth letters must involve a real assessment. If your letter was produced instantly or without any provider interaction, it will almost always be rejected.

3. The Letter Includes “ESA Registration,” Certificates, or ID Cards

There is no national ESA registry in the United States. Items like ESA registration numbers, lifetime certificates, ID cards, badges, or database entries have no legal standing. Scam companies often sell these items as “proof,” but landlords do not recognize them. A legitimate ESA letter stands alone and never comes with registration claims.

4. The Provider Is Not Licensed in Your State

A real ESA letter must come from a provider licensed specifically in your state. Understanding who can write the ESA letter is important, because only licensed mental health professionals are legally authorized to issue one. 

A therapist licensed in another state cannot provide a valid ESA letter for you. Many fake sites recycle the same provider for every state, hoping tenants won’t notice, but landlords check licensing details and quickly reject letters that fail this requirement.

5. The Letter Avoids FHA Language or Fails to Mention Your ESA Need

A legitimate ESA letter contains clear housing-specific language. It explains that your symptoms affect daily functioning and that an emotional support animal helps alleviate those symptoms. 

Fake letters often use generic phrases like “certified ESA” or “registered emotional support animal.” These terms are not recognized by housing laws and signal that the document is not legitimate.

6. Missing or Suspicious Contact Information

Landlords are allowed to verify ESA letters by contacting the provider. A legitimate letter includes a professional phone number, a verifiable practice address, and a real business email. 

Fake ESA letters often list disconnected numbers, personal emails, or call centers that cannot confirm the letter. If the provider cannot be reached, landlords typically reject the ESA request immediately.

7. The Letter Looks Template-Based or Poorly Formatted

Many fake ESA letters look mass-produced. They may lack letterhead, use mismatched fonts, contain grammar mistakes, or include digital signatures that look copied. Some even repeat the same generic paragraph for every customer. A legitimate ESA letter is formatted professionally and tailored specifically to your situation.

How to Check If Your ESA Letter Is Real

You can quickly investigate your ESA letter by reviewing key details that landlords also check. Start by confirming the provider’s license through your state’s licensing board. Your letter should reference the Fair Housing Act, describe how an ESA helps your symptoms, and be written on real letterhead. It must also look current and credible.

Important things your letter should show:

• A date within the last 12 months
• Clear, professional clinic information
• Specific details about your need not generic wording
• Appropriate FHA housing language

If anything appears vague, outdated, or suspicious, the letter may not stand up during verification.

Why Fake ESA Letters Get Rejected by Landlords

Landlords verify ESA documentation more closely than ever. They check state licensing databases, review the provider’s information, and contact the clinic when necessary. 

If the provider cannot confirm the letter or the details appear inconsistent, the landlord may question its validity. If the document also lacks proper housing language, the landlord has the right to deny the request. Since many housing providers review ESA letters routinely, they quickly notice if something looks off.

Fake ESA letters are most commonly rejected for:

• Unverifiable or incorrect license information
• Call centers or personal emails instead of real clinic contacts
• Generic templates with no reference to FHA housing laws
• Missing dates, poor formatting, or letterhead issues

When a letter fails verification, the tenant loses ESA protection and may be charged standard pet fees.

Why Fake ESA Letters Are a Growing Problem

Scam ESA Registration websites continue to grow because they target people who feel pressured for quick housing protection. These sites promise fast results, low-effort approvals, and “official” ESA registration, making it seem like ESA documentation is just another online purchase.

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), the only valid document is a legitimate ESA letter written after an evaluation by a licensed provider. Registrations, certificates, badges, or ID cards are meaningless.

Because landlords now verify ESA letters more carefully, fake ESA documents are being flagged faster than ever. Knowing the difference helps you avoid unnecessary rejections and protects your housing rights.

What a Legitimate ESA Letter Should Include

A legitimate ESA letter is a clinical recommendation, not a certificate, ID card, or registration record. If you’re wondering what does an ESA letter look like, it’s important to know that it must be written by a licensed mental health professional in your state who evaluates your symptoms either through telehealth or in person. 

The letter should clearly state that you meet the criteria for a mental or emotional disability under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and explain how an emotional support animal helps reduce those symptoms.

A proper ESA letter is personalized, professionally formatted, and clinically accurate. It must appear on official letterhead and include the provider’s full credentials, license number, state of licensure, contact information, signature, and the date. 

The letter should also reference FHA housing protections and be dated within the last twelve months, since many landlords request recent documentation.

A legitimate ESA letter typically includes:

• Official letterhead and practice details
• Your need for an emotional support animal for housing purposes
• FHA-consistent language
• The provider’s verifiable license information
• A recent date and signature

Anything outside of this, such as ESA registrations, badges, certificates, or lifetime approvals, is not legally recognized for housing rights. These items cannot replace a professionally written ESA recommendation.

In final thoughts, Identifying a fake ESA letter is easier once you know what the law requires. A legitimate ESA letter always involves a licensed provider, a real evaluation, and clear FHA-based language. 

Fake ESA letters skip essential steps, rely on generic templates, and frequently fail verification. Protect yourself by choosing a reputable provider like RealESALetter.com confirming their license, and ensuring the evaluation process is real. A proper ESA letter supports your housing rights, while a fake one puts them at risk.

If you’re unsure whether your document is real or fake, you can connect with our licensed mental health professional at RealESALetter.com to review it. We also provide a real and legitimate ESA letter so you avoid scams.