Recognising fake apartment ads. How to protect yourself against fraud.

Fake apartment ad scams are nothing new but they have become much more common in recent years. Rising demand for rental flats, particularly in cities like Zurich, Zug and Geneva, makes it especially lucrative for fraudsters to exploit unsuspecting apartment hunters. Such fake ads are often the work of criminal networks looking to steal money or data. These are the most common scams:

While it is becoming increasingly difficult to recognise fake apartment ads, there are still a number of signs to look out for:

• Lack of detail in apartment description: Important information such as precise address, flat size and ancillary costs is missing.
• Grammatical errors and mistakes in contact data: The advert contains linguistic errors or incomplete contact information.
• Low rental price: If the rental price for the advertised apartment is well below the market rate, caution is advised. 
• Incompatible photos: The pictures show a different apartment to the one described in the ad.
• Deposit or advance payment: Have you been asked to make a payment before viewing the flat? Serious providers do not make such demands.
• No clear moving-in date: Unclear details regarding the availability of the apartment are a warning sign.
• Ad not published on the management agency's website: If the apartment is being offered via a real estate management agency, it is worth checking their website.
• Urgency and pressure: If you are put under pressure to agree or make a payment quickly, this may also be an indication of fraud.

Knowledge protects you against fraud. You can avoid falling victim to such a crime by adhering to the following advice:

• Give preference to reputable providers: Use well-known property portals that check adverts.
• Verify the landlord/lady: Insist on a personal meeting or a video tour of the flat.
• Research the apartment's address: Check on Google Maps or Street View whether the flat really exists.
• Do not disclose any personal data: Do not send passport copies or account statements without having a justified reason to do so.
• Do not make advance payments: Do not make any payments until you have received a signed rental contract.

You were urgently searching for a flat and the advert looked great, so you sent off a copy of your passport and paid the rental deposit before receiving a signed rental contract. Suddenly, everything has gone quiet and you realise that you have fallen for a fake advert.

First things first: don't panic. There are steps you can take to combat the fraud. The important thing is to act quickly:

• Collect all evidence, including e-mails, payment receipts, messaging history and screenshots of the advert.
• Report the matter to the police or the National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC).
• If you have already transferred money, contact your bank to arrange a reverse transfer. The quicker you act, the higher the chances of this being possible.
• If you have passed on personal documents like passport copies or account statements, you may be at risk of identity theft. In this case you should contact the police or the residents' registration office to protect yourself.
• Share your experience on tenant forums and social media and with consumer protection organisations. In this way, you can help to expose the scam and warn others who might be affected.

For the future, you should remain alert and remember to check adverts carefully before making payments or handing over personal data.