Rental scams: twelve warning signs

Rental scams target exactly the people this site is for: someone moving from another country, under time pressure, who cannot easily view in person. The story is almost always the same. A good flat at a fair price, a friendly owner who happens to be abroad, and a request to send money before a viewing "because there are many interested people".

There is one rule that defeats nearly all of them: never pay anything for a home you have not seen and a lease you have not signed.

Twelve warning signs

• The price is well below the area. Compare with our rent estimator. A 2-bedroom in central Lisbon at half the usual rent is not a lucky find.
• The owner is abroad and cannot show the flat, but will "send the keys by courier" once you pay.
• You are asked to pay before viewing, to "reserve" or "take it off the market".
• Payment by money transfer service, crypto or gift cards, or to an account in a different name or country.
• Pressure and urgency: "I have five other people interested, I need an answer today."
• The listing appears in several cities, or the photos come up elsewhere in a reverse image search.
• No address, or a refusal to give one before payment.
• Communication only by messaging app or email, no phone call, no meeting.
• Documents that look odd: a passport or ownership certificate sent unprompted, with mismatched names or bad translations.
• A "booking platform" link that looks like a well-known site but is not on its real domain.
• The agent has no office, no registration and no website older than a few weeks.
• The story changes: a new reason why you cannot view, a new account to pay into.

Five-minute checks

Safer ways to rent from abroad

• Use established local agencies with an office you can visit or call.
• Ask a local contact, your employer's relocation team or one of our local experts to view for you.
• Book a temporary flat on a major platform for the first weeks, and sign the long lease after you arrive.

If you have already paid

1. Contact your bank immediately

   and ask for the transfer to be recalled. Speed matters.

2. Report it to the police

   in the country of the listing and where you live, and keep the reference number.

3. Report the listing

   to the portal or platform where you found it.

4. Keep every message, receipt and screenshot

5. Watch for identity misuse

   if you sent ID documents: tell your bank and, where available, place a fraud alert.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check the details with a local professional before you sign or pay anything.