Applying to rent feels like a scam

They keep taking my money for application fees and I never hear a word back. It's like I'm throwing my money down a hole.

How can I afford to move after I've spent a month's rent in fees to apply to various places?

How can they take $75 of my money and not even give me the courtesy of an automated email reply? No one answers the phones at any of these places, either.

This all feels like a scam. I don't understand how this is legal. They can make more money taking application fees than renting out the house.