Our cooperation partner Watchlist Internet explains fake advertisements on well-known apartment search portals and helps you identify them more quickly!
You can recognize fake apartment advertisements by two characteristics: The apartments on offer are very cheap and you have to pay the deposit and first month's rent before viewing them. Do not pay until you have signed the contract and seen the apartment!
How does this scam work?
- You are looking for an apartment or place an apartment request or a wanted ad on a classifieds portal (eBay, ÖH housing exchange, Facebook Marketplace, etc.).
- You will find a suitable offer. The person introduces themselves as a doctor, lawyer or business person and appears trustworthy. What's more, the apartment this person is supposedly renting is perfect! The apartment is already furnished, in a top location and remarkably affordable.
- You get in touch with the landlord. Communication usually takes place via SMS, email or WhatsApp. The person responds immediately and is very polite. She tells you personal things e.g. B. from stressful work and everyday family life.
- After some news, it turns out that the person renting the property lives abroad and therefore wants to organize the viewing and rental via a platform such as eBay, Airbnb or booking.com.
- Before the viewing you will be asked to pay the first month's rent and the deposit. However, you are assured that you will get the deposit and the first rent back if you decide against the apartment.
- You will receive a link from eBay through which you should make the payment.
- As soon as you transfer the money, the criminals disappear with your money and cut off contact. Your money is gone and it turns out that the apartment on offer doesn't even exist.
Criminals pose as successful people
Fraudulent apartment landlords present themselves as people with a high professional reputation, e.g. B. Doctors or lawyers. They want to give the impression that they are successful and reliable. They tell personal things to build trust. They also explain that it is very important to you to find responsible tenants and that you have had many bad experiences in the past.

Processing via platforms such as eBay, Airbnb or booking.com
It is clearly a scam if the viewing, key collection and prepayment should be managed with Airbnb, eBay or booking.com. eBay is currently being increasingly abused for this purpose. The criminals pretend to want to use the “eBay Secure Payment” service. Attention: This service is available, but not for the management and inspection of rental apartments.
We assume that the criminals are sending you a fake “eBay Secure Pay” link and urging you to release money.

The email will link to the real eBay website. If you read the explanation from “eBay Secure Payments” it becomes clear that the management of advance payments for apartments is not part of this offer!
You should pay attention to this when looking for an apartment
- Apartment perfect and too cheap: Be careful if the apartment is equipped with everything, in a perfect location, already furnished and noticeably cheap. Trust your gut feeling! These housing offers are too good to be true.
- Landlords abroad: As soon as the alleged landlords say that they live abroad and may prefer English as their language of communication, your alarm bells should ring.
- Prepayment of deposit before viewing: Are you being pressured to pay the first rent and deposit as quickly as possible? Be careful, this is a scam!
- Processing via platforms: It is clearly a scam if the viewing, key collection and prepayment should be managed with Airbnb, eBay or booking.com.
- Do not transfer any money in advance: only pay once you have viewed the apartment and signed a contract! Also, don't feel pressured to use eBay or other platforms like Airbnb or booking.com to manage deposits. These offers are dubious!
I have transferred – what now?
- Report it to the police.
- Contact your bank. A chargeback may be possible.
Advice & help
For specific advice requests, please contact the relevant offices that we have listed for you Advice & Help
You might also be interested in: “ Fake job advertisements on eBay: Be careful, fraud! “
Source : Watchlist Internet
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