Impersonated Landlords and Property Agents
A 'landlord' on WhatsApp wants a deposit before you can view the property, or your real landlord suddenly has new bank details. How to verify ownership and pay rent safely.
Rental scams move to WhatsApp quickly. A listing online says "contact on WhatsApp only". The "landlord" is abroad, the rent is attractive, and there are other interested people, so you need to send a deposit today to secure it.
Two common versions
1. The property that is not theirs
- Photos copied from a real listing.
- The "owner" cannot show you around: they are travelling or working abroad.
- Deposit and first month's rent by transfer or mobile money before a viewing.
2. The real landlord, impersonated
- A message from a new number, or the landlord's hacked account: "Please pay rent to my new account from this month."
- Sometimes an agent's email or WhatsApp has been compromised. See changed bank details fraud.
No viewing, no deposit. And no change of bank details without a phone call or face-to-face confirmation.
How to protect yourself
- View the property in person, or send someone you trust.
- Search the photos with a reverse image search. See reverse image search.
- Check ownership through official property records where available, or ask for documents and verify them.
- Use a registered agent where possible and check their registration independently.
- Get a written tenancy agreement before paying.
Related: rental and landlord scams and deposit scams on WhatsApp. For more, see common WhatsApp scams.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay a deposit before viewing?
No. Always view in person, or through a trusted person, and verify who owns or manages the property first.
My landlord sent new bank details by WhatsApp. What should I do?
Call them on a number you already had, or speak in person. Changed bank details by message are a classic sign of fraud.
How can I check who owns a property?
Many countries have land or property registers. You can also ask the agent for their registration with a professional body and check it independently.
Sources
- Rental Listing Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- About suspicious messages and scams, WhatsApp Help Center
- How to protect yourself from suspicious messages and scams, WhatsApp Help Center
