In recent years, finding accommodation has become increasingly complex, especially for students in large cities. Unfortunately, this development has also led to an increase in scams that take advantage of the plight of those looking for housing. The Dortmund police have now uncovered a particularly perfidious example of this development: a scam involving a non-existent shared room.
The fraudsters' scam is as simple as it is effective. Foreign students in particular are attracted via common housing portals. Communication with the alleged provider quickly leads to a commitment, often combined with a viewing appointment or even just a phone call. In the joyful expectation of having finally found an apartment or a shared room, the victims pay a deposit. But after the transfer, the provider disappears without a trace - the promised shared room does not exist and the deposit is lost.
The psychological trick behind the fraud
The core of this fraud method lies in the clever exploitation of the urgency and emotionality of the search for an apartment. Foreign students who have to find their way in a foreign city are particularly vulnerable to such scams. The pressure to find accommodation or a shared room at the start of the semester causes many to lack the usual care.
Prevention and protection against fraud
As part of their warning, the Dortmund police also published a series of information to protect those looking for accommodation. This includes the advice never to pay money in advance for viewings or to reveal sensitive data. It is also important not to carry out viewings alone and to generally be suspicious when pressure is exerted. Anyone who has fallen victim to such fraud should not waste any time and report it immediately.
Further strategies and solutions
In addition to raising awareness and clarification by the police, platform operators can also make a contribution by increasing security precautions and identifying suspicious offers at an early stage. But those looking for accommodation themselves are also required to adapt their strategies. This includes networking with local student unions and using verified platforms.
Questions and answers about shared room fraud:
Question 1: How can apartment hunters recognize a scam?
Answer 1: You should be suspicious of advance payments, missing viewing appointments and cheap offers. Reputable providers do not push for quick decisions or advance payments.
Question 2: What to do if you are a victim of fraud?
Answer 2: It is important to act quickly: report it to the police and, if possible, report the case to the platform.
Question 3: Can platforms prevent fraud?
Answer 3: Platforms can help identify fraudsters more quickly and remove their offers through improved security measures and controls.
Question 4: What support can those affected receive?
Answer 4: Those affected can contact the police, consumer advice centers and, if necessary, the operators of the housing platforms.
Question 5: How can those looking for accommodation better protect themselves?
Answer 5: By being careful when passing on personal data, critically examining offers and using offers from verified providers.
Conclusion
The shared room fraud in Dortmund is a serious phenomenon that takes advantage of the plight of those looking for accommodation. The police and other institutions do important educational work, but ultimately it is also up to those looking for housing themselves to protect themselves through caution and critical questioning. The development towards a safer housing search requires the cooperation of everyone involved - from the platforms to the police to the apartment hunters themselves.
For more information and support on online fraud and safety, subscribe to https://www.mimikama.org/mimikama-newsletter/ Mimikama also offers online lectures and workshops that you can register for at https://www.mimikama.education/online-vortrag-von-mimikama/ to deepen your knowledge of online security and protect yourself from fraud protect.
Source: press portal
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )