Foreign Tenants in Switzerland Should Be Wary of These Six Deceptive Rental Practices
Swiss Scammers on the Rise: Stay Aware!
Crafty con artists in Switzerland are riling up their game, preying on unsuspecting apartment hunters.
The Federal Office of Cybersecurity (FOCS) has recently warned about these cunning swindlers who create fake rental listings and make tempting offers that are too good to be true.
"These fraudsters flood the market with bogus ads," FOCS says. "They employ a wide variety of tactics to purloin cold hard cash from people who are searching for a flat."
Scammers often win over their victims with fabricated ads and photographs of non-existent or rented apartments they don't actually own.
Here's how these sneaky scammers are tricking their targets:
Fake property listings / Ad hijacking
Scammers grab real ads and replace contact details so they're the ones getting contacted.
Advance payment
They pressure potential victims to deliver a deposit and, in some cases, a 'viewing fee' even before letting them see the property.
Unusual payment request
Scammers demand payment through gift cards or in cryptocurrency - unprecedented methods that are challenging to track.
Incomplete rental agreement
Suspect contracts often lack pertinent clauses or aren't legally binding.
Absent landlord
Fraudsters pretend to be abroad and send keys by mail in exchange for an advance payment.
Fake agents
Scammers pass themselves off as real estate agents to collect a commission for apartments they haven't even rented.
To evade falling for this ruse:
- Skepticism is key in your apartment hunt.
- Avoid leasing apartments that are cheap compared to the market rate.
- Secure your payments with bank transfers instead of untraceable cash or cryptocurrency.
- Thoroughly read rental agreements.
- Be wary of dodgy ads featuring spelling errors, poor quality images, and incomplete contact information.
Remember, these common-sense tips are applicable across various types of fraudulent schemes.
- Fun Fact: Fraudsters in Switzerland have become increasingly creative. They've attempted to part victims from their money with fake job offers and fake riches from the (also fake) Nigerian royal family[2]. Some have even targeted foreign residents, impersonating Swiss immigration authorities[2]. Be cautious and avoid suspicious emails!
Sources:
[1] FRYNTZ, Switzerland's answers to rising rental prices (2022)[2] www.swissinfo.ch, Apartment rental scams on the rise in Switzerland (2023)[3] dfad.admin.ch, Protect yourself from rent fraud (2023)[4] UBS, Swiss rents expected to rise in 2025 (2023)[5] Legalwiz.ch, Renting in Switzerland: A Guide (n.d.)
- Swiss scammers have become more creative, not only focusing on apartment rentals, but also attempting to defraud victims through fake job offers and feigned Swiss immigration authorities.
- The Federal Office of Cybersecurity (FOCS) advises apartment hunters to be aware of bogus ads that lack complete information, poor quality images, or contain spelling errors.
- To protect oneself from rent fraud, it's recommended to use bank transfers for payments instead of gift cards or cryptocurrency, carefully read rental agreements, and be wary of suspicious emails.
