Bengaluru: A 52-year-old private firm employee lost almost Rs 1.3 lakh to cyber fraudsters after falling victim to a fake house rental offer while searching for shared accommodation in the US before relocating with his daughter.According to the complaint, Suraj (name changed), and his daughter were looking for a shared rental house in the US on June 23. They came across a WhatsApp group offering accommodation. A person identifying himself as Siddharth Shah contacted the complainant, claiming he worked for Accenture in Ahmedabad and would be relocating to the US on July 14.The fraudster told the complainant that he had a two-bedroom house available for rent in the US and offered to share it. After exchanging a few details and bargaining over the rent on a phone call, Suraj paid 600 USD (around Rs 56,820) to him as advance and the first month’s rent.However, on June 24, under various pretexts, the fraudster manipulated Suraj into transferring money in multiple transactions. By the time Sra realised he was deceived, a total of Rs 1,26,898 was transferred from his bank account to the fraudster.Realising he had fallen victim to an online rental scam, the complainant called the cyber helpline and lodged a complaint. A few days later, he approached the North Cyber Crime police and filed a formal complaint.A senior officer said the scammers are posting fake online advertisements on various portals. They download photographs of real houses from the internet and claim that they own the property or have already rented or leased it. The fraudsters then try to trick people and cheat them.“Such frauds have already been taking place abroad, and recently the fraudsters have started targeting Indians with such advertisements. They communicate convincingly with gullible people and make them believe they are getting a good deal. All that we can advise people is to ensure that no payment is made unless they visit the property and meet the landlord. If someone pressures you to transfer money immediately to block the property, it should be suspected as fraud,” the officer added.According to police, the fraudsters often target students and young professionals who are trying to rent or share the costs in the US, UK, Australia, Canada and other countries.A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and Section 318 (cheating) of the BNS, and further investigation is underway.Beware of Online Rental Scams– Never pay an advance for a rental property without physically verifying the property or authorising a trusted person to inspect it.– Verify the landlord’s identity through official documents and insist on a video call showing the property in real time.– Avoid making payments based solely on WhatsApp chats, social media posts, or online advertisements.– Do not succumb to pressure tactics such as “Pay immediately to block the property” or “There are multiple interested tenants.”– Cross-check property photos using reverse image search, as fraudsters often copy images from genuine real estate websites.– Use trusted and verified rental platforms and communicate through their official channels.– If you suspect fraud, immediately call the Cyber Helpline 1930.
