Uncategorized, 12 September

Online safety

Online commerce is a wonderful thing that helps reduce prices and make transactions between individual easier. However, as with all online platforms, some will try misuse the internet’s anonymity and conduct in a fraudulent manner. The properties listings appearing on the site are published by 3rd party entities (individuals or agencies), and as such we have no control nor accountability for the published content. However, though scam and fraud rarely happen on the site, they are still at risk of occurring, so we prepare a list with top tips to help landlords and tenants be more online-safety conscious when transacting with other individuals online, especially across countries.

TO DO list:

• Ask to see at least two forms of ID (passport and a driving licence for example) before you hand over any money, or at least a photo of the person holding his or her ID clearly showing the face (to make sure that the ID is authentic).
• Get a working phone number and call it. If possible to get a landline as well, even better.
• Do a search on social networks and on google for more information about the person asking for money.
• If the person provided an email address, check it on google to see if it was not flagged by others as fake.
• If you’re dealing with a real-estate agency, check their reviews online and call their office phone.
• Ask for proof of property ownership (if dealing with a landlord)
• Use your common sense! If someone is asking you to communicate via email instead of through the site and does not answer directly to your questions about the property, or if someone is pushing you to make urgent payments to book the flat – be alert!

DO NOT DO list

• Use your common sense! Do not trust suspicious listings that look “too good to be true” (ie. – too cheap for the location and/or too cheap for the quality standard of the property).
• Never send money via Western Union, Moneygram or similar money transfer companies.
• Don’t accept an emailed scan ID from someone you haven’t met. You need to see the actual ID photo in the presence of the person whose ID it is, or at leat two forms of identification.
• Don’t use any contact details hidden inside photos.

 

The listings on the site are (1) published by individuals that are not related in any form to the site and are (2) under the sole responsibility of the publishing individuals. The site is not responsible in any way for the validity of the published listings nor to any actions taken with relations to them by users and visitors on the site. If you suspect a publisher of a listing on the site is behaving suspiciously or dishonestly or if a listing on the site seems to be published with malicious intent, please contact us immediately and we will investigate the matter and try to assist to the best of our capacity.