Criminals use the portals Immoscout, Immowelt and Immonet for real estate fraud. You can only protect yourself if you recognize the scam.
Fraud at Immoscout: Important signs for those interested in real estate
The desire to own a property can make some people start their search somewhat blindly. In the sheer joy of having found a bargain, future property owners quickly overlook the fact that even on property portals there can be fraudsters. There are a few signs that you should definitely pay attention to:
- Be suspicious if the property for sale or rental is offered at prices well below the usual local prices. For example, real estate advertisements on Immoscout always have reference prices listed at the bottom of the page, which can serve as a guide.
- The seller or lessor should be willing to at least make a phone call. If your actual contact person insists on email communication only, cancel the purchase process.
- Never buy a property without having inspected it carefully. If a viewing is not possible or you have to pay money in advance, something is wrong.
- Therefore, never make an advance payment – no matter what the seller or landlord tells you. A standard scam that Immoscout itself warns against is, for example, that the alleged seller or landlord of the apartment bargain is abroad and demands a deposit from you so that he can send you the apartment key for viewing. This is why you should also be suspicious of an escrow service or transfer services via Western Union.
- Also, make sure that the photos published really match the descriptions and the location given. Sometimes it is enough to look at satellite images on Google.
- You should also pay more attention to the descriptions and the choice of words: if there are numerous grammatical errors or text passages that seem to have been translated by a program, this does not exactly speak for seriousness.
- As a tenant, you will always have to pay additional costs: Therefore, you should make sure that additional costs are also stated in the advertisement and that the rent including utilities and heating do not match in price.
- If you are unsure whether a provider is reputable, Immoscout itself offers you a platform to address concerns and ask questions.
How to avoid becoming a victim of fraud as a landlord or seller
Even if you want to sell or rent a property on Immoscout, Immowelt and Immonet, you should be careful. Fraudsters are not only targeting potential buyers or renters, but also the original property owners.
- Be careful when receiving inquiries from prospective property buyers via email. You can usually tell if the scam is in English or has obviously been written using a translation program. You should also not open email attachments, as fraudsters use them for phishing in order to get your data or money. Insist on a telephone conversation with the prospective buyer.
- Check the financial situation of the prospective buyer. You can ask for pay slips and an employment contract, among other things.
- Do not let yourself be persuaded to pay in cash – you could be tricked into giving counterfeit money.
- Before signing a contract, ask for an on-site inspection of the property. This will also reduce the risk of falling into the hands of fraudulent brokers and consultants who resell properties at inflated prices.
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