Recent figures show a majority of accommodation fraud victims are male, with 54% of cases involving men and 46% involving women.
34 per-cent of those targeted are under the age of 25, while 66 per-cent are under 33, highlighting the vulnerability of younger individuals to these scams.
In response, the National Economic Crime Bureau (NECB) is urging potential renters to be vigilant, especially when dealing with individuals who claim to be out of the country and demand a deposit before showing the property.
The NECB warns that such requests are red flags, as legitimate landlords should be able to meet prospective tenants in person.
The Bureau also advises renters to be wary of properties that are only advertised on social media platforms, as well as landlords who insist on communicating solely through messaging apps like Messenger or WhatsApp.
If a landlord provides vague responses or is unwilling to meet in person to show the property, the NECB recommends disengaging immediately to avoid falling victim to a scam.
As accommodation fraud continues to rise, authorities emphasise the importance of due diligence and caution when searching for rental properties.
