RENTAL scams persist in the property industry, resulting in prospective tenants in Durban North and Umhlanga finding out the hard way that they had been conned out of thousands of rands on online platforms by fraudsters.

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Grant Gavin, owner of RE/MAX Panache, said the problem has always existed, and that it’s the house-hunters urgently looking to take occupation who are particularly vulnerable.

“People looking for rental properties are most at risk. The most common scam is where fraudsters demand a deposit and first month’s rent up front, then disappear with the money,” Gavin explained.

Criminals often pose as legitimate property agents on social media, especially on Facebook groups, where they operate under the radar. Gavin advised tenants to be vigilant.

“Ask for the property practitioner’s licence number and verify it on the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) website. If the agent cannot provide proof of registration, that’s a red flag.”

Technology, including AI, has made it easier for scammers to duplicate listings and logos from reputable agencies. Gavin warned that some fraudsters even copy the RE/MAX logo and branch names to trick unsuspecting tenants.

In one recent case, a local resident lost R16 000 after signing a fake lease that carried the RE/MAX of Southern Africa logo.

“That was the first indication that this was a scam. Our leases carry the agency’s branch name under the logo, not the logo for Southern Africa,” he said.

“Every time someone poses as an agent and scams people, it damages the credibility of legitimate agencies but no real estate agent will ever ask for money into a personal bank account. Payments should always be made into the agency’s trust account.”

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