Scam

Someone might offer you room or home for rent, and use high-pressure tactics to get you to pay them rent in advance. In such a scam, the scammer usually does not have the authority to rent out the property – if indeed the property even exists.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

• If a deal spotted online appears too good to be true, it probably is. Even if a listing appears legitimate, it could also be a scam
• Look out for photos of a property that do not closely match the description of the unit

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

• Visit the property to verify that it exists
• Ensure that the person you deal with is the rightful owner of the unit, or confirm that they are an accredited real estate agent
• Search for identical ads placed elsewhere; you could find out that the listing is a well-known scam
• Do not pay rental deposits or rent to the salesperson; payments should be made directly to the owner of the property and only after all parties have signed the tenancy agreement

Source: Scam Alert Singapore