Renting accommodation, especially in tourist cities in Ukraine, often comes with the risk of becoming a victim of fraud. Scammers use attractive photos and excessively low prices to attract the attention of potential renters, but behind these offers often lie fake pages and fraudulent schemes.
This is reported by Finway
Key Signs of Fraudulent Listings
The first alarming sign may be a price that is significantly lower than the market rate, especially during periods of high demand. Experts advise carefully checking the landlord’s profile and the photos of the accommodation: if the account was created recently, the photos are taken from other websites, there are no video tours, or many images are published at once – these are likely signs of fraud.
- Lack of reviews from previous guests or the presence of only inactive accounts and bots among the followers.
- Request for full or partial prepayment without signing a contract.
- Payment to a personal bank card.
- Refusal to show the accommodation via video call or to provide the exact address.
Tips for Safe Accommodation Rentals
To avoid becoming a victim of scammers, experts recommend thoroughly verifying the authenticity of listings and landlord profiles. In particular, it is advisable to perform a reverse image search online to ensure that the photos are not taken from other sources.
Do not send prepayments to dubious accounts or without signing an official contract. It is also important to keep all correspondence, receipts, and copies of listings, as they can serve as evidence in case of reporting to the police.
“The Ministry of Internal Affairs urges citizens to report suspicious listings or cases of fraud to the cyber police.”
By following these recommendations, you can significantly reduce the risk of encountering fraudulent schemes when renting accommodation and protect your funds.