New WhatsApp tool could curb rental scams in Durban North
Rental scams continue to cost South Africans millions each year, with Durban among the hardest-hit markets. Pocket Property hopes RentalWatch will normalise quick verification, making it as routine as Googling a business before making a purchase.
A RENTAL scam which was exposed in the Northglen News on August 29 (Rental scams resurface in Durban North, Umhlanga – Page 2) has resulted in the launch of a digital solution designed to protect tenants from losing thousands to fraudsters posing as landlords or agents.
Also read: Rental scams resurface in Durban North, Umhlanga
Pocket Property, a proptech company, has rolled out RentalWatch, a world-first WhatsApp-based tool that allows tenants to flag suspicious rental listings and check whether others have reported the same property.
“The reality is that scams move faster than people can verify anything up front,” said Michael Lusaka, founder of Pocket Property.
“We wanted to build something tenants could use immediately, not just another warning to ‘be careful’. With RentalWatch, anyone can check a listing in seconds, without logging in or downloading an app.”
The system works by letting users report dodgy adverts, view a summary of past reports, and share warning cards with others. It is free to use and accessible both via WhatsApp and the Pocket Property website.
Although the service has only just launched, Lusaka believes the potential impact is enormous. Census data shows eThekwini Metro’s population is over 4.2 million, and with around a third of South Africans renting, that equates to roughly a million potential users in Durban alone.
“The first success story we want to hear is someone about to pay a deposit, checking RentalWatch, and realising it’s a scam. Every report submitted has the power to protect many others,” said Lusaka.
Beyond scam detection, the platform also helps legitimate agents stand out from fraudsters who clone their listings, while its “Spot the Scam” game teaches tenants to identify red flags in adverts.
“Real protection only happens when tools like this are widely known and used,” added Lusaka.
“Our goal is to make checking a rental as common as checking a restaurant review before you book.”
You can test the group here or find out how the WhatsApp facility works here
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