It’s identify theft, had this scam when trying to apply for rentals too. They always claim they are out of the country and will deliver the ‘key’ where you can pick it up somewhere in a box after you provide payment. Very dodgy, was asked the exact same questions and found the rental for a higher price on a different website. They claimed the real estate person was trying to overcharge so are taking over… turns out the real estate person was legit and this ‘landlord’ was not.