# Recognizing a scam listing

> Very often scam listings are accompanied by highquality photos or beautiful renderings which are also duplicated on other Italian or foreign sites to promote

Source: https://immobiliare.kustomer.support/en_us/recognizing-a-scam-listing-rkypOo66a

Last updated: 2024-03-12T10:07:28.549Z

Scam listings are often accompanied by high-quality photos or beautiful renderings, which are also duplicated on other Italian or foreign sites to promote different properties.

The listed house, with the same features and condition, is priced significantly lower than its market value. 

The scammer who placed the listing often claims to be abroad or unable to meet you to show you the property in person.

Generally, he asks you to contact him by email and rarely makes his phone number public. In the few cases where this is visible instead, he hardly responds and prefers to have voicemails left and then contact you back from anonymous or foreign numbers. 

The scammer asks for money from a deposit to lock the property via prepaid cards, money orders, or other money transfer services, very rarely via traceable means of payment such as a wire transfer. 

As for rental listings, the scammer often reports that he has also posted his listing on Airbnb and that he wants to enter into a contract through that portal, to collect the deposit and only then send you the keys to the apartment. 

Along with the contract, which is worthless, he will also send you as collateral some identity documents that he says are his but are always fake or stolen. This is for him to convince you to pay the deposit (through often untraceable means) and then send you the keys to the house, which of course will never arrive.