How to Tell If a Room Listing Is a Scam
Finding a room online can save you time and money. But it can also come with risks, especially when someone tries to convince you to send money before you have even seen the property.
At Flatshare.gr, we are working to make finding a room and a roommate as safe as possible. Still, it is important to know the basic red flags yourself.
A practical guide to spotting room rental scams in Greece.
🚩 1. The price is too good to be true
You found a fully furnished room in central Athens, with bills included, for a price much lower than similar listings?
It could be a great deal. But it could also be a scam.
Compare the listing with similar rooms in the same area. If the price is significantly lower, proceed with extra caution.
🚩 2. They ask you for money before you see the room
This is one of the biggest warning signs.
If someone asks you for:
- a deposit,
- a security payment,
- a “reservation fee”,
- money to send you the keys,
before you have seen the property and confirmed who the landlord or legal tenant is, do not pay.
Don’t let pressure such as “There are 10 other people interested” push you into making a rushed decision.
🚩 3. The landlord or roommate avoids showing you the property
A genuine landlord or tenant should normally be able to show you the room or apartment.
Be particularly careful when you hear:
“I’m abroad.”
“I can’t come, but everything is fine.”
“Send the deposit first and I’ll give you the keys.”
A video call can help, but it does not replace verifying the property and the identity of the person renting it.
🚩 4. The photos look too perfect
The photos in a listing may be genuine — but they could also have been copied from another listing.
If something doesn’t look right, try a reverse image search or search for similar photos online.
If the same room appears in different cities or with different contact details, that’s a serious red flag.
🚩 5. They insist on taking the conversation off the platform
Be careful if someone immediately wants to move the conversation to WhatsApp, Telegram or another messaging app, especially if they then ask for personal information or money.
Whenever possible, keep your communication on the platform until you have verified that the listing and the person are genuine.
Before You Pay, Do These 5 Things
✅ See the room
Visit it in person or, if that’s not possible, arrange a reliable live video call.
✅ Verify who is renting it
Ask whether they are the owner or a tenant and what their relationship with the property is.
✅ Get the basic terms in writing
Confirm the rent, deposit, rental period, bills and exactly what is included.
✅ Don’t send money because someone is pressuring you
A genuine opportunity shouldn’t require you to panic.
✅ If something doesn’t feel right, stop
Trust your instincts. If the story doesn’t make sense, don’t move forward until you get clear answers.
And Something Important About Flatshare.gr
At Flatshare.gr, we are working to help users search for rooms and roommates in a safer environment.
Verification processes and relevant badges can help you evaluate a profile or listing, but no badge or platform should replace your own judgment and caution.
If you see something suspicious, don’t send money and report it to the platform.