The PG or hostel wants the full advance online before I move in. Is it a scam?
A small token to hold a bed is normal in busy cities; the full deposit and first month's rent, by UPI, before you have visited and met anyone, is not. Pay the full amount only when you are at the PG with the receipt in your hand.
Fake PG listings use photos of real PGs and target students in admission season. The "manager" is friendly, the price is good, and the beds are "filling fast". After the advance, the number is switched off.
How to check
- Visit, or ask a senior, a friend or a relative in the city to visit and meet the manager.
- Call the PG on a number found independently – on Google Maps or a sign outside – not only the one in the ad.
- Ask current residents in person what they pay and who they pay to.
- Pay a token at most until you move in, and get a receipt with the PG's name.
- Pay the balance in person, to the owner or manager you have met.
Frequently asked questions
- The PG is on a well-known listing site. Does that make it safe?
- Listing sites do not verify every ad. The checks are the same.
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