Common characteristics:
Too good to be true offers. Low rent Central locations
Insist on using English language.
From some foreign country will send key from post.
Makes third party apartment contracts via TripAdvisor or Airbnb
Ask money through money transfer not by bank account number.
Pictures of beautiful rooms with neatly folded towels (hotel rooms)
Avoids the reference of apartment apps and use other platforms e.g. you applied through immox, so scammer will not reply your msg there. After a few days you will get an email that doesn't refer to that app, not ad reference nothing. No clue from where they got your number.
Another link that shows pictures of apartment.
Sometimes they send picture messages.
Ask for money without showing apartment.
Too lenient : with family ok, pet ok, smoker ok
Talk as if they know you... In language like 'you seem like a good choice for this apartment'
one incident.. i met the agent in a coffee shop and she was not able to show the apartment in person!! so had to let go.. didnt get the feel it was real offer
What to do?
Read or leave comments on Facebook posts. We comment that's a scam.
Don't transfer any money.
Write them that you know their reality
Insist on 'regular' procedure. Viewing- contract- mietkautionskonto etc.
Contact cyber crime branch
say .. you can pay full just before entering.. pay a token advance (still at your risk)
If u r getting emails just to verify go to header take ip and locate
Header contains senders location mac id etc
Google the IP address and it will show the location of computer
Good idea to give some reference like police
Hope this might help you guys. Please who are new to Munich, and searching for house. Please go through this list of scammers.
