How to Avoid House Rent Scams in India?

Moving into a new city comes with a lot of responsibilities and challenges.

Finding a perfect rental home is one of those.

Students arriving for coaching classes, people starting a new job, or families relocating are always in hurry to find a home to live in. Obviously, that's the foremost priority.

But also what scammers take advantage of.

Everything looks too perfect to be good? It might a trap! Not all the landlords are trustworthy, not all the deals are good. And by the time you realise something is wrong, you'd have already paid a token amount or security deposit.

A little research and caution in the beginning can save the hassles later.

Here are some rental scams happening across India -

1. The Fake Army Officer Scam

This is very common on OLX, Facebook, and local groups.

A person puts up photos of a nice flat at a very low rent. When you call, they say they are an Army or Police officer. They tell you they were sent to another city on duty, so they cannot meet you in person.

To make the story sound genuine, they may even WhatsApp you a photo of an Army ID card or Aadhaar card.

Here's an example to make you understand it better -

Rohan comes across a two-room flat listed at just INR 8,000 a month. The rent seems like a good option, so he decides to call. For whatsoever reasons the flat owner wasn't available to give a house tour, instead he asked Rohan to move in right away.

Rohan got convinced.

The flat-owner asked Rohan to send 2,000 rupees by UPI to courier the house keys.

Rohan sent the money. Right after that, the person blocked his number. The ID card was fake and made on a computer.

One simple habit can save you from most rental scams: don't transfer money for keys, booking, or any other reason until you've actually visited the property yourself.

2. The Gate Pass and QR Code Trick

In this trick, the cheat posts photos of a big apartment flat. When you ask to see the flat, they come up with new excuse.

Like the building guards need a visitor pass fee of 1,000 to 2,000 rupees. They assure its fully refundable once you reach the gate.

A few mins later, the QR code is sent on WhatsApp. They tell you to scan it and enter your UPI PIN to get the pass.

As soon as you type your PIN, money goes out from your bank account.

Always remember, you NEVER need to type your UPI PIN to receive money or get an entry pass. Real building societies never ask for online fees just to see a flat.

3. The Fake Middleman Scam

Cheats take photos of real flats from top property websites. They post the same photos again with their own phone number, but show a much cheaper rent.

When you call, they fix a time for you to see the flat. They might even ask the real watchman to show you around.

Once you like the house, they call you and say: "Two other people want this flat right now. Send 10,000 rupees advance immediately to book it."

Once you pay, they turn off their phone. The real owner of the house knows nothing about you.

4. The Sub-Rent Trap

This happens a lot in student areas and coaching towns.

A person takes a big house on rent from the real owner. Then, without telling the owner, they rent out individual rooms to students.

They take 3 to 6 months of advance deposit in cash. After a few weeks, the real owner arrives asking for unpaid rent. By then, the person who took your money has run away with the cash.

5. Taking Money Back at Move-Out Time

Some problems happen when you are leaving the house.

What looked like a routine security deposit suddenly becomes a point of disagreement.

Some landlords may point to wall stains, faded paint, loose fittings, or other issues and use them as reasons to deduct a large amount from the deposit.

To protect yourself:

• Take a clear video of the entire house on the day you move in.
• Send photos of old cracks and wall marks to the landlord on WhatsApp on day one.
• Make sure your rent paper clearly says that normal wear and tear will not be cut from your deposit.

3 Easy Steps Before You Make the Payment

A few quick checks before paying a deposit can help you avoid a lot of trouble later.

1. Look at a recent utility bill

One simple check is to ask for a recent electricity bill or property tax document. Verify whose name appears on it.

It should match with the name of the person showing you the house and claiming to be the owner.

2. Check UPI details again

Before making the payment, verify the name that appears in the payment app.

Check whether the money is going to an unrelated name or a business account you've never heard of. If yes, don't hesitate to ask the question.

3. Get everything in writing

Never reply on verbal assurances. A written rent agreement is essential.

Mention every tiny information in this agreement and keep it signed by both parties.

Already transferred money? Act immediately

Call 1930 right away. This is India's cybercrime helpline.

The sooner you report the transaction, the faster they will act.

Don't forget to file an official complaint on the cybercrime portal. Keep strong evidences like screenshots of conversations and payment transfers, payment receipts, or account details that might help during the investigations.

Final Advice

A real house owner will always let you see the home in person before asking for rent. They will never push you to send money in a hurry.

If rent looks too cheap, or if someone forces you to pay token money right away, stop and check the papers first. Keep your money safe.