The rent is far below other listings. Is it a scam?
Very often, yes. A rent far below the market for the same area and size is the bait that makes you pay a reservation fee without a viewing. Real bargains exist, but they come with a viewing, a verifiable owner and a normal contract, not with pressure to pay today.
The scammer copies a real listing, lowers the price and adds a story: the owner moved abroad, wants a "good tenant" more than money, and will send the keys after the deposit. Several people pay for the same unit, and nobody gets keys.
What to check
- Compare with other listings in the same building or street. Half price is a warning.
- Reverse image search the listing photos: the same photos in another listing with a different price is a sign.
- Insist on a viewing with the person who has the keys.
- Check the owner through the title, the admin or the agent's license.
- Pay nothing before the viewing and the contract.
Frequently asked questions
- The listing has been up for weeks. Would a scam last that long?
- Yes. Scam listings are reposted constantly under new accounts. Time online proves nothing.
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