Looking for a new home in a new city is a complicated task. Add to the difficulty, the possibility of being scammed makes the task even more complicated. These scams can be found even in the most well-known platforms. Advancing money without being able to visit the flat or prices below the market price are some of the signs that should alert us. From People Global Relocation we want to give you some tips for a safe search for accommodation on the Internet.
One of the most common scams is that of the landlord living abroad. There are hundreds of ads of this type, in which the owner of the flat tells us that he/she lives in another city and even, sometimes, in another country. As soon as we see this, we should be on our guard.
Normally these ads usually show photos of a property in very good condition for a very affordable price. This is something we should always keep in mind. It is not usual to find bargains of this type. If you are interested in this property and the owner contacts you through a channel different from the platform in question, you should start to worry. If, in addition to this, he/she asks you for an amount of money in advance, forget about that flat, you are dealing with a scam.
Another scam that has been recently on the rise on flat listing platforms is the ambassador scam. The owners are, once again, people who claim to live abroad. However, in this case, what they are looking for is someone to take charge of the property. In other words, an ambassador to look after and show the flat to possible interested parties in exchange for an economic benefit. These people ask you for a certain amount of money to see if you are really interested in the task. Don’t fall into the trap, it’s a scam again.
Tips for a safe search of accommodation
- Always be aware of the language used by landlords in advertisements. It is probably a direct translation made with an online translator.
- Avoid communicating with the owners of the properties through means external to the platform itself.
- Never pay more than one month’s deposit. In Spain the law does not allow it.
- Always compare different prices and conditions on different platforms.
- Always leave a trace of the payments you make. Whether through Paypal, bank transfer or credit card.
One of the best options to make sure you find a safe and secure flat is to have the help of a professional. At People Global Relocation we can help you with your relocation and settling process in Spain. Our expert agents will identify any scams from the very beginning and will find the accommodation that best suits your needs.
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