Warning: Housing Rental Scams – You Can Still Lose Money Even After Seeing a Real House!

Nice room, reasonable price, glossy photos, and even being taken to inspect the actual room in person… Is that enough to safely transfer a deposit? Hold on, NTTU-ers!

Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics. Fraudulent agents often use images, addresses, and details of a real house to build trust. However, they have no legal ownership or authorization to rent out the property. A single moment of carelessness and a quick money transfer can cause your deposit to vanish into thin air.

1. 5 Red Flags to Watch Out For

Be extremely cautious if you encounter any of the following warning signs during your room search:

Urgent pressure to deposit: Creating artificial urgency: “If you don’t deposit today, someone else will take the room.”
Evading legal verification: Refusing to provide proof of property ownership, authorization documents, or valid rental rights.
Suspicious social media accounts: Profiles with sparse information, newly created accounts, or lacking credible activity.
Mismatched bank accounts: Asking to transfer money into an account name different from the landlord/agent’s verified name.
Unreasonable hidden fees: Demanding extra payments (viewing fees, reservation fees, processing fees) prior to or following the deposit.

2. Pre-Deposit Safety Checklist

Before making any financial transfer, every student must check off this 5-step safety list:

Verify Landlord Ownership: Request to see land use certificates, house ownership documents, or legal power of attorney.
Review the Rental Contract: Carefully read terms regarding deposits, monthly rent, utility fees, and deposit refund conditions.
Cross-check Recipient Details: Only transfer money if the bank account name strictly matches the verified landlord’s identity.
Cross-reference Online: Search the phone number, images, and address on Google/Facebook to check for previous scam reports.
Keep All Evidence: Save all chat logs, receipts, contracts, and transaction records.

⚠️ Key Safety Rules to Remember:

REAL HOUSE ≠ REAL LANDLORD

HOUSE TOUR COMPLETED ≠ LANDLORD VERIFIED

Take a pause to verify – Only transfer money when 100% sure!

3. Official NTTU Accommodation & Dormitory Support

To avoid scam risks, the NTTU Youth Union & Student Association provides verified advisory services, assisting students in finding safe, pre-screened boarding houses and dormitories.

☎️ Hotline: 1900 2039 (Press extension for your campus):