Thursday, August 12, 2010

Expats More Likely to Fall Prey to Rental Scams, Rogue Agents

Scams

According to reporting out of AsiaOne, expats have become increasingly more likely to be swindled by rogue rental agents or encounter rental scams in Singapore. You can bet that the statistics are similar elsewhere too. If you’re an expat abroad– especially if you don’t speak the native language well– then you should exercise elevated caution whenever you engage in a business or monetary transaction.

The Consumers Association of Singapore has reported a 23% increase in real estate complaints filed by foreigners there. The increase may be due to the global recession, though foreigners have always been targets for dodgy tenancy agreements and disappearing deposits, said the report.

One crucial thing concerned expats in Singapore can do to avoid falling victim to such scams is to always make sure agents are CEHA-certified. That stands for the Common Examination for House Agents. Elsewhere, always look for what kinds of regulatory organizations exist and stick with them exclusively. The best way to avoid tricky landlords is to put them out of business.

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