Germany's competitive housing market attracts scammers targeting desperate apartment hunters. Don't become a victim. Here are 7 red flags to watch for.
🚩 Red Flag #1: Landlord Is "Currently Abroad"
The landlord claims they're working in another country and can't show you the apartment. They offer to send keys after you pay the deposit.
Reality: This is the most common scam. The apartment doesn't exist or isn't theirs to rent.
🚩 Red Flag #2: Price Too Good to Be True
€600 for 80m² in Berlin Mitte? €800 for 3 rooms in Munich center? If it's significantly below market rate, it's a scam.
Average prices: Berlin €12-18/m², Munich €16-24/m², Hamburg €11-16/m²
🚩 Red Flag #3: Requests Payment via Western Union or Gift Cards
Legitimate landlords use bank transfers. Scammers prefer untraceable methods.
Red flags:
- Western Union, MoneyGram transfers
- Cryptocurrency payments
- iTunes or Amazon gift cards
- Cash only, no receipt
🚩 Red Flag #4: No Physical Viewing Allowed
The apartment can only be "viewed" via photos or video. In-person viewing is "impossible" due to various excuses.
Remember: ALWAYS view the apartment in person before paying anything.
🚩 Red Flag #5: Suspicious Contract or No Contract
The contract has spelling errors, missing details, or they want deposit before giving you the contract to review.
Legitimate contracts include:
- Landlord's full name and address
- Exact apartment address
- Rent breakdown (Kalt + Neben)
- Deposit amount (max 3 months)
- Move-in date and notice periods
🚩 Red Flag #6: Pressure to Act Fast
"Many people are interested! Pay deposit NOW or you'll lose it!"
Reality: While competition is real, legitimate landlords give you time to review the contract and think.
🚩 Red Flag #7: Landlord Asks for ID + Financial Documents Upfront
They request copies of your passport, bank statements, or credit card before even viewing the apartment.
Safe approach: Only provide documents after viewing and when seriously interested.
How to Protect Yourself
- ✅ ALWAYS view the apartment in person
- ✅ Meet landlord at the actual property
- ✅ Verify landlord's identity (check ID)
- ✅ Google reverse image search listing photos
- ✅ Research average prices for the area
- ✅ Never pay before signing a contract
- ✅ Get everything in writing
- ✅ Trust your instincts - if something feels off, it probably is
What to Do If You've Been Scammed
Immediate actions:
- Contact your bank to try to stop the payment
- File a police report (Strafanzeige)
- Report the listing to the platform (ImmoScout24, WG-Gesucht)
- Warn others in community forums
Safe Apartment Hunting
FastFlat only monitors legitimate platforms (ImmoScout24 and WG-Gesucht) which have scam protection measures. But always verify before paying!