Housing pressure makes newcomers attractive targets for fake landlords, cloned advertisements and pressure to pay before viewing. A convincing listing, key story or foreign bank account is not proof that the person offering the property is entitled to rent it to you.
Before paying anything
- Verify the address independently and compare the listing with other advertisements.
- Ask who owns the property and, if an agent/intermediary is involved, whom they represent.
- Be very cautious about “I am abroad, pay first and keys will be couriered” stories.
- Do not let artificial urgency replace verification.
- Check whether the proposed rent and contract make sense for the property.
- Keep the advertisement, messages, names, phone numbers, account details and payment requests.
If you already transferred money
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately and ask whether the transfer can still be stopped or traced. Preserve all evidence and report suspected fraud to the police. Speed matters more than spending days arguing with the person who received the money.
Not every unusual situation is fraud
A foreign landlord, foreign IBAN, remote viewing or sublet can be legitimate. Treat these as reasons for additional verification, not proof of criminality. Focus on identity, authority to rent, documentation, property access and whether the payment story is coherent.