Last Updated on 12-30-2023
Rental scams in Taiwan are on the rise, and while searching for rental properties online is highly convenient, unscrupulous individuals also use the internet for scams. Among the most vulnerable are young renters. This article aims to shed light on the various forms and instances of rental scams in Taiwan, as well as how to prevent and respond to such scams. We hope it can assist everyone in being more cautious and secure when renting accommodations.
👉Read more: Things Foreigners Must Know Before Rent a House in Taipei
Rental Scams in Taiwan：Paying in Advance for Priority Viewing
Based on the prevalence of rental scams in Taiwan, a common tactic involves requesting tenants to make an upfront payment in exchange for the opportunity to view a property before others. This type of scam has occurred multiple times in Taiwan, with a particular focus on targeting young renters.
Typically, scammers claim that several tenants are interested in the same property and advise them to make a payment to secure priority access for viewing. This encourages tenants to initiate a money transfer. However, in reality, the rental property may not exist or may not be owned by the scammer. Once the funds are transferred, the scammer may disappear, leaving the victim without accommodation and out of money.
To prevent falling victim to such scams in Taiwan, tenants should exercise caution and refrain from making any upfront payments until they have verified the authenticity of the property. Additionally, it’s essential to request landlords to provide relevant documentation to confirm their identity and ownership.
Rental Scams in Taiwan：Pretending to be the Landlord
In cases of rental scams, another common tactic involves scammers impersonating property owners, asserting that they can show the rental property to potential tenants. Nevertheless, once they receive payment, they vanish without a trace. This is a highly deceptive practice and can leave tenants in a precarious situation.
Typically, scammers portray themselves as property owners or landlords. They arrange viewing appointments with tenants and then demand upfront payments, such as deposits or rent, as security deposits. Once the payment is made, the scammer disappears, severing all contact with the tenant. Consequently, tenants not only lose their money but also fail to secure the rental property.
To prevent falling victim to this type of scam, tenants should verify the authenticity of the property before making any payments. Request documentation from the landlord and consider collaborating with reputable real estate agencies to enhance the security of the rental transaction. Maintain vigilance for any unusual arrangements or demands to ensure the legality and safety of the leasing process.
Rental Scams in Taiwan：Adding as a Friend and Sending Investment Messages
Another method of rental fraud involves scammers using the guise of adding friends to send investment messages, enticing victims to invest money. Typically, scammers post fabricated property information online, urging potential tenants to add them as friends on LINE. Subsequently, they continually send what appear to be high-profit potential investment messages, claiming to provide a risk-free opportunity, luring victims into investing funds.
Once victims engage in the investment, scammers may request them to make transfers or provide personal financial information. However, these so-called investment opportunities are often deceptive, designed to swindle victims of their money.
To guard against this type of scams, tenants should remain vigilant, refraining from adding strangers as LINE friends or participating in dubious investments. Before considering any investment opportunity, one should carefully verify the person’s identity and the legitimacy of the investment project. Additionally, if you receive seemingly unusual or overly enticing investment messages, exercise caution to avoid falling prey to scams.
How to Protect Yourself from Rental Scams in Taiwan? 5 Tips to Keep You Away from Rental Pitfalls！
1｜Don’t Easily Give Money or Provide Identification Documents
Fraudsters typically impersonate landlords or property owners, requesting tenants to make advance rent payments or provide personal information, and then disappear. This exposes tenants to the risk of financial loss or identity theft. Since this is a common rental scam, people should be particularly cautious. It is essential to ensure that they do not easily provide money or identity documents before formalizing a lease agreement with the landlord or property owner. Further recommendations include choosing properties with reasonable rent, confirming the property’s actual existence, and verifying the other party’s identity before making any payments.
2｜Rent and Interior Design are Quite Different
Rental scammers often exploit fake rental advertisements, claiming that the rent is exceptionally low and offering high-end furnishings to attract potential tenants.However, the actual situation may be entirely different. Tenants should remain vigilant when they come across remarkably low rental prices and seemingly extravagant interior decoration in advertisements. They should carefully review rental ads and contract details. These scammers may deceptively lure tenants into signing contracts and then attempt to swindle them with large deposits or rents.
👉Read more: 10 Tips to Make Your Rental Feel Like a Home
3｜Insufficient Photos, Doesn’t Reflect a Genuine Living Environment
In anti-fraud practices, the scarcity of photos that don’t resemble the actual living environment is a common warning sign. Scammers often include very few photos in rental advertisements, and these photos may not adequately represent the true condition of the property. Additionally, these pictures may be carefully selected or edited to make the living environment appear more appealing than it is in reality, such as using stylized photos or images from model homes.
4｜Ask Irrelevant Questions
In anti-fraud practices, a common tactic employed by scammers is to pose unrelated questions during conversations or decline to address inquiries related to the transaction or lease. This conduct can serve as a red flag, suggesting that the other party might not be a legitimate transaction partner or property owner. For instance, in rental scams, scammers might delve into unrelated topics such as personal life or family circumstances to divert attention or bewilder tenants. Alternatively, when confronted with questions about the rental property, they may provide vague responses or deliberately evade them.
5｜The Poster’s Account is Not Genuine
In preventing rental scams in Taiwan, an important precaution is to remain vigilant regarding fake accounts. This situation usually pertains to an individual’s online rental platform or social media account appearing recently established, lacking a profile picture, or having a seemingly randomly chosen username. These traits may suggest that the legitimacy of the property listing is dubious, so prospective tenants should exercise caution. The genuineness of the poster’s account serves as a crucial indicator because scammers might pose as landlords or property owners by using deceptive accounts to entice victims.
Through the explanations provided above, we can effectively prevent or reduce rental scams in Taiwan, thus making the rental market healthier and fairer.If you want to avoid scams in Taiwan, you can visit our website, where we provide you with some secure housing options.
