The landlord says they're overseas and will courier the keys. Is that normal?
No. "I am overseas, pay the deposit and I will courier the keys" is the standard script of a rental scam. A real owner who is abroad has an agent, a family member or a neighbour show the place and sign with you; nobody rents out a home to a stranger by post.
The story is often long and personal: a job transfer, a missionary posting, a sick relative. The flat is beautiful and cheap. The deposit goes by EFT, sometimes to an account "in the owner's brother's name".
What to do
- Ask who can show you the flat in person. If nobody can, walk away.
- Check the owner on the title deed via the Deeds Office and compare with the name you are given.
- Never pay a deposit, a key courier fee or a "holding fee" before you have been inside.
- Reverse image search the photos.
- Report the advert on the platform so the next person is warned.
Frequently asked questions
- They sent me a copy of their ID and the title deed. Is that proof?
- Documents are easy to fake or copy from the real owner. Veritaza looks for signs of forgery in an ID photo, but never says a document is genuine.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you're chatting to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email address, the name and the ID document, for R99.
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