28.01.2025 - Finding a new home is often stressful, and scammers take advantage of this. They post fake rental listings and make dubious offers, with the aim of getting unsuspecting people to send them money before they have even seen the property. The NCSC has been receiving an increasing number of reports of attempted scams involving property listings.
Rental scams
Affordable housing is in high demand, especially in large cities. Scammers take advantage of this and use a variety of tactics to try to get their hands on the money or personal details of people looking for a flat. The following are some of the most common scams:
- Fake property listing: Scammers post fake ads online with pictures of flats they don’t own or that don’t exist, often with implausibly low rents;
- Ad hijacking: Scammers copy real listings but change the contact information;
- Advance payment: Scammers ask for a deposit (or in some cases even a viewing fee) before they let you see the property, often claiming that there are many people interested in the property and pressuring you to decide quickly;
- Unusual payment request: Scammers ask you to pay your rent or deposit with gift cards or in cryptocurrency – payment methods that are difficult to trace;
- Incomplete rental agreement: Scammers use fake or incomplete rental agreements that are missing important clauses or are not legally binding;
- Landlord abroad: Scammers pretend to be abroad and so unable to show the property in person. They offer to send you the keys by post in return for an advance payment;
- Identity theft: Scammers use overly long application forms to get your personal information, such as your social security number or bank details, so they can steal your identity;
- Fake agents: Scammers pretend to be listing agents so that they can charge you a commission for finding you a property they have nothing to do with.
Scams by landlords
- Too good to be true: An ad on a Swiss site lists a spacious three-room flat in Zurich with a balcony and lake view for CHF 1,400 a month – less than half the price of comparable flats. The low price is intended to quickly attract potential tenants, who are asked to pay a deposit before they even see the property;
- Advance payment abroad: A scammer claiming to rent out a furnished flat in Geneva requires prospective tenants to pay a deposit via Western Union before they can see the apartment. He justifies this by saying that he is staying abroad for an extended period. This is a typical sign of fraud, as Western Union transfers are difficult to reverse;
- A dream apartment that isn’t real: An advertisement shows a luxury flat in the centre of Bern, with modern furnishings and a roof terrace, at an unbeatable price. On closer inspection, however, the pictures appear to have been doctored and the description of the flat is vague. In fact, the flat does not exist at all.
How to avoid being scammed
- Be wary of flats being rented out at well below market value. Compare the rent with similar properties in the area;
- Go to see flats in person: Insist on being shown the property before you sign or pay anything – even if you meet someone in person who claims they are the landlord;
- Use secure payment methods: Never pay your rent or deposit in cash, gift cards or cryptocurrency. Instead, use secure payment methods such as bank transfers;
- Read rental agreements carefully before signing: Make sure that the information is complete and correct. If in doubt, get an expert to check it;
- Check that the landlord is who they say they are: Confirm their identity and that they own the property by checking the Land Registry;
- Be wary of dodgy ads: Spelling mistakes, poor quality images and missing contact details can all be signs that the ad is a scam;
- Trust your gut: If anything seems strange or too good to be true, break off contact with the supposed landlord and keep looking.
What to do if you suspect a scam or have been a victim of one
- If you suspect a scam, cut off contact immediately and ignore any emails;
- In the event of financial loss, we recommend that you file a complaint with the cantonal police. You can find your nearest police station on the Suisse ePolice website (available in German, French and Italian);
- Inform the property lettings website about the incident so that they can block the fraudulent ad;
- If you have sent the scammers a copy of your ID or passport, report the incident to your local ID and passport office.
Current statistics
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Last modification 28.01.2025
