Virtual Home Rental Agreement May Be Fraudulent Scheme
A 27-year-old woman came across the hook of scammers in a common scheme. The victim transferred the deposit for renting an apartment, but was left without the desired housing and lost almost 10 thousand hryvnias.
On October 13, a citizen addressed the police department No. 3 (Shevchenkivskyi) of Zaporizhzhya RUP with a statement that the day before on the Internet she found an advertisement for renting an apartment. The applicant contacted the landlord using a mobile messenger. During a telephone conversation without viewing the property, they agreed to provide housing for rent. The main condition of the agreement was prepayment for the first and last month of residence, as well as for the services of a notary. On the same day, a woman using a mobile banking application transferred more than two thousand hryvnias to a stranger. The next day, the applicant transferred almost eight thousand hryvnias in three transactions. Immediately after that, without fulfilling the terms of the contract, the landlord stopped contacting. The woman realized that she was a victim of a fraudulent scheme.
Upon the commission of the crime provided for in Part 1 of Art. 190 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, relevant checks are ongoing. Police officers establish persons involved in crimes.
The police advise how to safely make purchases or receive services online and how to understand that they want to deceive you:
- When viewing the photo, check that it is real. For example, search for images using the appropriate functions on the Internet;
- fraudsters can also attract victims with a price. So, if you are offered a product, at a price that is too low, there is a high probability that they want to deceive you;
- Sometimes the “seller” can assure that he has another customer who is about to pick up the goods. Manipulates you without leaving time for reflection. This is all so that you transfer money faster;
- Online shopping and platforms for the provision of various services greatly simplify our lives. However, there may be scammers on the other side of the screen. So please note: the rental of housing, the purchase of expensive goods and other transactions must take place in person with the real sellers or owners, or their official representatives.
Be sure to conclude a formal written agreement on the rental of housing, office or other premises. In addition, check the title documents on the property. This will protect your interests and provide guarantees to each party.
National Police of Ukraine
