Scammers rent
Real estate rental fraud
Fake rental: how to recognize fraud?
The ability to distinguish a fraudulent ad from a real one will save you both time and money. The Cian moderation service has developed its own encyclopedia dedicated to different types of fake ads — let's learn together!
According to Miel analysts, the number of long-term rental properties in Moscow has grown to a record level. By the beginning of autumn, the total volume was about 56 thousand objects — this is the highest figure in history. For comparison: at the end of winter, before the outbreak of the pandemic, about 35 thousand apartments were put up for rent, which is 61% less.
It is not surprising that the volume of fraudulent schemes is also growing against the background of supply growth. Why submit fake ads if in the end you will not be able to pass and earn anything, you ask? Oh, there are plenty of ways to shake off money from respectable tenants even before they come to the first viewing! Let's look at specific examples.
Imaginary owners
"Volodeltsy". Scammers create several accounts at once, under which they publish favorable offers. At the same time, they themselves are presented as owners. Of course, such ads are in demand, so a certain amount is charged from candidates applying for the lot: thus, the object is allegedly booked, and worthy candidates "confirm their intentions".
Sometimes scammers explain the need for payment by the fact that a lot of people come to view, but they do not rent an apartment, but only waste the owners' time. The reasons are called and others.
safety. The most important rule in all cases sounds like this: no paid screenings and no money for "booking" (the exception may be daily rent).
The client should also be alerted by the fact that the owner's account is completely new.
Pseudo-armor for daily rent
This scheme is used for daily rent. And again, the fraudster will offer to pay for the reservation in advance — only this time it is almost impossible to recognize malicious intent, since prepayment in daily rent is practiced all the time and is not considered suspicious.
safety. "Ears" can only give out the date of the announcement — most often it was submitted literally just now and too beautiful an object for a very small fee.
Theft of password and money from the card
"Storytellers". Small details, colorful descriptions of the surrounding world and mournful confessions about minor shortcomings are pleasant to read ("a living person wrote, not a soulless agent!"), but this can also be a wake-up call. Especially when they are joined by the option to pay for a daily apartment using the suggested link.
The scheme is as follows: using ads from other sites and information about the area from open sources, scammers create a very plausible ad — even the photos will be real.
After talking with the tenant on the site, the scammers offer to go into personal correspondence in messengers (specifically for this they purchased a SIM card in the underpass), agree on payment through the alleged service of the same site where the ad was found.
THEN—HERE IT IS! — THE VICTIM RECEIVES A PAYMENT LINK, BUT THIS LINK IS GENERATED BY A BOT: IT LOOKS THE SAME, ONLY THE MONEY GOES STRAIGHT INTO THE POCKET OF SCAMMERS.
Moreover, the scheme allows you to get all the card data, which means that the defrauded tenant will lose not only the amount paid for rent, but in general everything that was on the card. The transition to messengers was necessary in order to take the victim away from the real site and then slip a fake.
"Storytellers–2". The same scheme will be able to be turned in the opposite direction. This time, the scammers pretend to be tenants and ask the gullible owner to allow them to pay for the apartment they liked in advance: allegedly through the same website on which the ad was found. Transfer the required amount simply to the card, the fake tenant is afraid: suddenly deceived? Such a policy is confusing — after all, the owner is exposed as a fraudster!
A few minutes later, with the message "paid!", the fraudster sends a fake link to receive money. Following the link, the owner will find his ad (it has already been generated by the bot) and a request to enter the card data to which the service will now transfer the money paid by the "tenant".
safety. Never follow the links to pay or to receive payment (especially if you receive these links from new acquaintances).
"Fishers" ("fishermen")
The essence is similar to the plot of "storytellers". Scammers are asked to pay for something through a fake website, the design of which completely coincides with the design of a much more well-known and proven resource. The victim thinks that he made the payment on a verified site, but this is not the case.
Phishing sites are able to copy even the most famous sites with ads.
SECURITY. It is quite easy to recognize them: always pay attention to the link address: there should be only original site addresses and other non—standard ways of writing - definitely not for good.
"Information Agency"
Scammers publish an extremely tempting ad, but instead of viewing the apartment, they insist that potential tenants first need to come to the office. There are enough arguments for such a visit, starting with the owner's desire and the need to sign documents and ending with international practice.
Already in the office, the scammers manage to get money from the client and a signature in the contract under the line about fulfilled obligations and the absence of claims (sometimes for this purpose the scammers call the front person portraying the owner of the apartment from the ad, and "arrange" a meeting at the apartment in a couple of hours).
Of course, later it turns out that the owner did not come to the meeting, and the house is generally uninhabited. At this stage, the scammers throw up their hands, remind them that they provided only information services, linking the tenant with the landlord, and offer other options — most often illiquid.
The tenant refuses these options, but he can no longer take money for services: the contract has been signed, there are no complaints.
safety. In order not to get into such a mess, remember: all meetings about renting an apartment are held only at the place of your future residence. No offices and signings before real viewing!
"Cheap" apartments
"Utilities". Here you will come across not so much scammers as just not very respectable citizens. In the ad, they will write that renting an apartment will cost a conditional 30 thousand rubles (and you, of course, will consider this option, because similar neighboring ones will already cost 40 thousand), but in passing the owner will also mention about the "communal apartment — there is not much there". By "a little", most likely, the same 10 thousand rubles of difference will be meant.
In the meantime, you will have time to fall in love with the apartment as your own — that's the calculation. It's easy to calculate a feint: a strange discount gives it away.
"There is the same one, but a little more expensive." Another option for a divorce on the same topic is the phrase "this apartment is not available now" ("after the fire", "the current tenants extended the lease for a month", "you have the wrong shape of eyebrows"). But, of course, "there is a very similar one, only a little more expensive, will we look at it?"
SECURITY. Don't get fooled by "cheap" apartments. If you can rent an apartment at the same price as similar ones, no one will do it cheaper.
"Lead generators"
Scammers have learned to sell unscrupulous agencies contact details and information about the interests of those people who have ever been interested in renting housing - leads.
The scheme is simple: scammers submit beautiful ads about renting out paradise tabernacles (only the authors of the idea know that the tabernacles are fake) and find out in detail the preferences of those potential customers who were unlucky to call on this fake ad.
Then the scammers make up their own customer base, after which the agencies that bought it begin to call them and offer them real (but not as heavenly as a bait apartment) options.
safety. Standard advice: do not buy into too beautiful and at the same time too cheap options. If curiosity prevailed, specify that you only need this eden, and no other.
Collect the pledges and disappear
"With the world by a thread." Scammers rent quite a nice apartment for rent, forge ownership documents and advertise for a long-term lease. Over the next few days, they successfully negotiate with several future tenants at once about renting, receive a deposit and payment for the first month from each, after which they evaporate together with the money.
safety. It is quite easy to recognize this type of fraud: you should be alerted by the postponement of settlement and too favorable conditions. If these two factors converge on the same object, check on the sites with ads for real estate rental, whether the apartment you have looked after is for rent.
"Khamovniki" ("weavers")
Double deception. First, this type of fraudsters deceives the realtor, whose account has earned the status of "I work honestly", and then, acting on his behalf, clients. The plot of this fable is as follows: the "weavers" turn to the realtor allegedly on the recommendation and offer to pay them a commission, but warn that they want to choose the tenants themselves. Therefore, the realtor must indicate the phone number of the scammers, that is, sorry, "weavers" in the announcement published on his behalf.
Next, the realtor is sent data on the apartment (not the fact that it exists), then the same scheme is reproduced as with "volodeltsy" ("pay for viewing" or "book, as there are many candidates"), only on behalf of a respectable realtor — in the epilogue, the moderators will unfairly punish him.
SECURITY. It is possible to calculate such a divorce only by offering to pay in advance.
"Tow trucks"
Fake rental: how to recognize fraud?
The ability to distinguish a fraudulent ad from a real one will save you both time and money. The Cian moderation service has developed its own encyclopedia dedicated to different types of fake ads — let's learn together!
According to Miel analysts, the number of long-term rental properties in Moscow has grown to a record level. By the beginning of autumn, the total volume was about 56 thousand objects — this is the highest figure in history. For comparison: at the end of winter, before the outbreak of the pandemic, about 35 thousand apartments were put up for rent, which is 61% less.
It is not surprising that the volume of fraudulent schemes is also growing against the background of supply growth. Why submit fake ads if in the end you will not be able to pass and earn anything, you ask? Oh, there are plenty of ways to shake off money from respectable tenants even before they come to the first viewing! Let's look at specific examples.
Imaginary owners
"Volodeltsy". Scammers create several accounts at once, under which they publish favorable offers. At the same time, they themselves are presented as owners. Of course, such ads are in demand, so a certain amount is charged from candidates applying for the lot: thus, the object is allegedly booked, and worthy candidates "confirm their intentions".
Sometimes scammers explain the need for payment by the fact that a lot of people come to view, but they do not rent an apartment, but only waste the owners' time. The reasons are called and others.
safety. The most important rule in all cases sounds like this: no paid screenings and no money for "booking" (the exception may be daily rent).
The client should also be alerted by the fact that the owner's account is completely new.
Pseudo-armor for daily rent
This scheme is used for daily rent. And again, the fraudster will offer to pay for the reservation in advance — only this time it is almost impossible to recognize malicious intent, since prepayment in daily rent is practiced all the time and is not considered suspicious.
safety. "Ears" can only give out the date of the announcement — most often it was submitted literally just now and too beautiful an object for a very small fee.
Theft of password and money from the card
"Storytellers". Small details, colorful descriptions of the surrounding world and mournful confessions about minor shortcomings are pleasant to read ("a living person wrote, not a soulless agent!"), but this can also be a wake-up call. Especially when they are joined by the option to pay for a daily apartment using the suggested link.
The scheme is as follows: using ads from other sites and information about the area from open sources, scammers create a very plausible ad — even the photos will be real.
After talking with the tenant on the site, the scammers offer to go into personal correspondence in messengers (specifically for this they purchased a SIM card in the underpass), agree on payment through the alleged service of the same site where the ad was found.
THEN—HERE IT IS! — THE VICTIM RECEIVES A PAYMENT LINK, BUT THIS LINK IS GENERATED BY A BOT: IT LOOKS THE SAME, ONLY THE MONEY GOES STRAIGHT INTO THE POCKET OF SCAMMERS.
Moreover, the scheme allows you to get all the card data, which means that the defrauded tenant will lose not only the amount paid for rent, but in general everything that was on the card. The transition to messengers was necessary in order to take the victim away from the real site and then slip a fake.
"Storytellers–2". The same scheme will be able to be turned in the opposite direction. This time, the scammers pretend to be tenants and ask the gullible owner to allow them to pay for the apartment they liked in advance: allegedly through the same website on which the ad was found. Transfer the required amount simply to the card, the fake tenant is afraid: suddenly deceived? Such a policy is confusing — after all, the owner is exposed as a fraudster!
A few minutes later, with the message "paid!", the fraudster sends a fake link to receive money. Following the link, the owner will find his ad (it has already been generated by the bot) and a request to enter the card data to which the service will now transfer the money paid by the "tenant".
safety. Never follow the links to pay or to receive payment (especially if you receive these links from new acquaintances).
"Fishers" ("fishermen")
The essence is similar to the plot of "storytellers". Scammers are asked to pay for something through a fake website, the design of which completely coincides with the design of a much more well-known and proven resource. The victim thinks that he made the payment on a verified site, but this is not the case.
Phishing sites are able to copy even the most famous sites with ads.
SECURITY. It is quite easy to recognize them: always pay attention to the link address: there should be only original site addresses and other non—standard ways of writing - definitely not for good.
"Information Agency"
Scammers publish an extremely tempting ad, but instead of viewing the apartment, they insist that potential tenants first need to come to the office. There are enough arguments for such a visit, starting with the owner's desire and the need to sign documents and ending with international practice.
Already in the office, the scammers manage to get money from the client and a signature in the contract under the line about fulfilled obligations and the absence of claims (sometimes for this purpose the scammers call the front person portraying the owner of the apartment from the ad, and "arrange" a meeting at the apartment in a couple of hours).
Of course, later it turns out that the owner did not come to the meeting, and the house is generally uninhabited. At this stage, the scammers throw up their hands, remind them that they provided only information services, linking the tenant with the landlord, and offer other options — most often illiquid.
The tenant refuses these options, but he can no longer take money for services: the contract has been signed, there are no complaints.
safety. In order not to get into such a mess, remember: all meetings about renting an apartment are held only at the place of your future residence. No offices and signings before real viewing!
"Cheap" apartments
"Utilities". Here you will come across not so much scammers as just not very respectable citizens. In the ad, they will write that renting an apartment will cost a conditional 30 thousand rubles (and you, of course, will consider this option, because similar neighboring ones will already cost 40 thousand), but in passing the owner will also mention about the "communal apartment — there is not much there". By "a little", most likely, the same 10 thousand rubles of difference will be meant.
In the meantime, you will have time to fall in love with the apartment as your own — that's the calculation. It's easy to calculate a feint: a strange discount gives it away.
"There is the same one, but a little more expensive." Another option for a divorce on the same topic is the phrase "this apartment is not available now" ("after the fire", "the current tenants extended the lease for a month", "you have the wrong shape of eyebrows"). But, of course, "there is a very similar one, only a little more expensive, will we look at it?"
SECURITY. Don't get fooled by "cheap" apartments. If you can rent an apartment at the same price as similar ones, no one will do it cheaper.
"Lead generators"
Scammers have learned to sell unscrupulous agencies contact details and information about the interests of those people who have ever been interested in renting housing - leads.
The scheme is simple: scammers submit beautiful ads about renting out paradise tabernacles (only the authors of the idea know that the tabernacles are fake) and find out in detail the preferences of those potential customers who were unlucky to call on this fake ad.
Then the scammers make up their own customer base, after which the agencies that bought it begin to call them and offer them real (but not as heavenly as a bait apartment) options.
safety. Standard advice: do not buy into too beautiful and at the same time too cheap options. If curiosity prevailed, specify that you only need this eden, and no other.
Collect the pledges and disappear
"With the world by a thread." Scammers rent quite a nice apartment for rent, forge ownership documents and advertise for a long-term lease. Over the next few days, they successfully negotiate with several future tenants at once about renting, receive a deposit and payment for the first month from each, after which they evaporate together with the money.
safety. It is quite easy to recognize this type of fraud: you should be alerted by the postponement of settlement and too favorable conditions. If these two factors converge on the same object, check on the sites with ads for real estate rental, whether the apartment you have looked after is for rent.
"Khamovniki" ("weavers")
Double deception. First, this type of fraudsters deceives the realtor, whose account has earned the status of "I work honestly", and then, acting on his behalf, clients. The plot of this fable is as follows: the "weavers" turn to the realtor allegedly on the recommendation and offer to pay them a commission, but warn that they want to choose the tenants themselves. Therefore, the realtor must indicate the phone number of the scammers, that is, sorry, "weavers" in the announcement published on his behalf.
Next, the realtor is sent data on the apartment (not the fact that it exists), then the same scheme is reproduced as with "volodeltsy" ("pay for viewing" or "book, as there are many candidates"), only on behalf of a respectable realtor — in the epilogue, the moderators will unfairly punish him.
SECURITY. It is possible to calculate such a divorce only by offering to pay in advance.
"Tow trucks"