How to recognise fake ads
Caution with suspicious property advertisements
Fraudsters lure people with highly attractive housing offers and creative stories about why the apartment is so cheap. A dream apartment in the centre of Zurich, recently renovated, covering 90m² and with 3.5 rooms for CHF 1,000.00? If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. This is the first indication of how to recognise a fake ad.
Watch out for the following suspicious information and terms – the ad is then most likely a fraud.
Advertisement posted at the weekend
The fraudsters usually place the advertisements at weekends in the hope of avoiding the scrutiny of the real estate portals. By Monday, a number of victims will have already fallen victim to the scam.
Alternative advertising platforms such as Facebook
On social media platforms like Facebook, there are no active controls and fraudulent ads are less noticeable. If the property is only advertised there, you should be particularly cautious.
Low rental prices
The listed rental prices are usually far below the usual local prices. If an ad is particularly unusual, it is probably a fake.
Copy-&-paste photos and ads
The photos in fraudulent ads are usually copied into various advertisements. If you see duplications, it could be an indication. In addition, these advertisements often only show generic catalogue pictures of homes. Remember that there are also more and more cases of fraudsters copying real ads.
Incorrect use of language
Most fraudsters operate from abroad and use automatic translation services. Poor use of language can also indicate a fake advertisement.
Fictitious contact details
Fraudulent advertisements use actual existing home addresses, but fictitious contact persons are named. The fact that Swiss mobile phone numbers are used in the advertisement does not mean there is no risk, because they can easily be organised via intermediaries. Professional property managers can be found at the registered address on the internet and in the commercial register.
Suspicious conduct and advance payment of the deposit
Usually, the whole process is handled anonymously via e-mail and the landlord claims to be abroad. They often tell implausible stories about why they cannot be present at the moment and why they will hand over the keys once payment has been received. The most popular scam is when the deposit must be paid before the viewing.
Request for data
Phishing in fake advertisements is also increasingly common. The apartment ad is used to lure the victim. By text message or email, they are directed to phishing websites where they are asked to enter their details. There are now deceptively genuine fake websites that are linked by the fraudsters. The con artists are becoming more sophisticated and professional. With the personal data collected, they gain access to e-banking and other web services.
Conclusion
SCaution should be exercised if you come across any of the scams above. Never transfer money until you have viewed the apartment. A professional landlord would never ask you to. The same applies to the provision of passwords, bank details, etc. The most important thing to remember is to use your common sense and trust your gut feeling.
Have you discovered a fake ad?
The portals will be grateful if you notify them; they can thus delete the fake advertisements as quickly as possible. If you have discovered the scam too late and have become the victim of a fraud, contact the police to initiate criminal proceedings.