Fake bargains: Rental fraudsters rip off Viennese - 30 reports per week
Rental fraud is on the rise again in Vienna
According to the police, there are currently around 30 reports of rental fraud per week in Vienna. Fraudsters post fake ads on platforms such as willhaben.at or Facebook Marketplace and charge interested parties a deposit. However, the apartments advertised do not exist or are already occupied.
The fraudsters often use photos and descriptions of real apartments from real estate portals, but change the contact details. They then create a fake email address or phone number and pretend to be the landlord.
How to protect yourself from rental fraud
There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from rental fraud:
- Only respond to ads from reputable sources, such as real estate agents or property management companies.
- Never send money to someone you don't know or haven't met in person.
- If you're unsure about an ad, contact the landlord directly to verify the listing.
If you have been the victim of rental fraud, you should report it to the police immediately. You can also file a complaint with the consumer protection agency.
For more information on rental fraud, please visit the website of the Austrian Consumer Protection Agency (Verein für Konsumenteninformation): https://www.vki.at/mietbetrug-so-schuetzen-sie-sich/
