Increase in Fake Rental Ads in Vienna

Increase in Fake Rental Ads in Vienna

Image: APA/EVA MANHART

 

Vienna is witnessing a rise in fraud cases involving fake rental listings, with scammers posting ads for cheap apartments online and disappearing after taking advance payments, police have confirmed.

The fraud follows a consistent pattern. The suspects claim to be abroad and ask potential tenants to transfer money upfront for a key to be sent by post. Once the payment is made, contact is abruptly severed.

A recent example of this scam was reported by the Wiener Bezirkszeitung newspaper: a 48-square-metre flat in Vienna’s 7th district was listed at €602 per month, including utilities, hot water and heating.

Prospective tenants who responded received an email from the supposed landlord, who claimed to be abroad but promised to send photos and floor plans. The scammer then insisted that money be transferred — first for a reservation, then for a deposit and the key to the apartment.

Payments are typically requested to be made to a foreign account or via a money transfer service. After the payment is completed, the scammer vanishes, and all communication ceases.

How to Spot the Scam

Reinhard Nosofsky, head of fraud investigations at the Federal Criminal Police Office, advises caution when examining rental listings. “You can do a reverse image search on the internet to check if the photos appear elsewhere. If they do, it’s a strong sign that the ad is fake,” Nosofsky told ORF.

Free tools such as Google Lens or TinEye Reverse Image Search can help verify whether images have been used in other contexts.

Dedicated Reporting Centre Set Up

The Federal Criminal Police Office has established a Cyber Crime Competence Center to assist victims in reporting these scams. Police urge anyone who falls victim to this fraud to file a report, as it enables broader investigations that may help track offenders internationally.

Authorities are warning potential renters to exercise heightened caution when faced with unusually low-priced offers.

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