📢 Protect Yourself from Rental Fraud in Ho Chi Minh City — Share This!

Protect Yourself from Rental Fraud in Ho Chi Minh City — Please Share

🚨 Scammers frequently publish fraudulent rental listings, pressure prospective tenants to pay immediately, and insist on untraceable payment methods. Protect yourself and your community by following these best practices.

Essential safeguards

• 🏠 Inspect the property in person before committing or transferring funds. Never rely solely on photos or video tours.
• 🆔 Verify the landlord’s or agent’s identity. Request a government-issued ID and confirm the person’s name against ownership documents or the property manager’s records.
• 📄 Request documentary proof of ownership or a formal authorization to let the property (title, certificate of land use rights, or a written power of attorney).
• 💳 Use secure, traceable payment channels: bank transfers to registered accounts, escrow services, reputable rental platforms, or payment methods that provide receipts and transaction records.
• 🖊️ Insist on a written lease that clearly states terms, duration, deposit conditions, and the parties’ signatures. Read every clause before signing.
• ⚖️ Consider seeking legal advice for high-value or complex rentals.
• ⚠️ Exercise caution with listings priced substantially below market value, last-minute “must-pay-now” demands, or requests to avoid a formal contract.
• 🔍 Cross-check listings across multiple platforms and look up the property address to confirm it exists and matches the listing details.

If you become a victim

• 📞 Report the incident immediately to the local police and obtain a report number.
• 📨 Notify the platform or website where the listing appeared and provide all supporting evidence (screenshots, messages, payment records).
• 🗂️ Preserve all communications, receipts, and bank statements for law enforcement and dispute resolution.
• 🧾 Contact your bank promptly to attempt transaction reversal if possible.

Share and raise awareness

• 📢 Share this message with friends, colleagues, and neighborhood groups.
• 🔗 Post in community groups and on social media to warn others.
• 🤝 Encourage neighbors and building managers to verify prospective tenants and agents.

Together we reduce risk and protect our community. Stay vigilant and stay safe. #RentalSafety #RealEstateTips #HCMC