Warning: rental fraud when renting a home

There are scammers posing as REMAX agents. In some cases they use fictitious names, but they often misuse the name, photo or details of someone who really is affiliated with REMAX. They approach people looking for a home and ask them to transfer money in advance, for example for a "viewing", "reservation", "deposit" or "administration fees". This is fraud. We want to help you recognise it in time.

A real name is no proof

Scammers deliberately use the names of existing REMAX agents. You may find such a name on our website or on social media and think: this checks out, this person really works there. But the fact that the name exists does not mean you are actually dealing with that agent. Someone can pose as one of our colleagues without us having anything to do with it. So don't judge by the name, but by the way contact is made (see below).

REMAX never asks for money in advance when you rent a home

A REMAX agent will never ask you to transfer money before you have viewed a property and before there is an official rental agreement. Are you being asked to pay in advance to "reserve" a property or to secure a viewing? Do not do this. It is almost certainly fraud, even if the sender poses as an agent you can look up.

REMAX agents only email from an @remax.nl address

Official emails from our agents always come from an email address ending in @remax.nl. If you receive a message from an address that resembles this but is slightly different (for example with an extra letter, a different domain such as @remax-nl.com, or via Gmail or Outlook), assume it is not from us, even if the name under the email is that of a real REMAX agent.

How to recognise a scammer

• The name may be correct, but contact runs through an email address, phone number or social media account that is not officially ours.
• You are asked for money in advance, often with urgency or pressure ("there are lots of interested parties, pay quickly").
• Payment has to be made via a payment request (Tikkie), a transfer to a private account, or sometimes even in cryptocurrency.
• You cannot view the property, or only "after payment".
• The email address does not end in @remax.nl.
• The price is strikingly low for the property and the location.
• You are asked for a copy of your ID or bank details before anything has been officially recorded.

What can you do?

• Do not transfer any money and do not share personal details.
• Not sure whether a message is really from us? Contact us using the details on our official website and ask whether this agent has actually approached you. That way you verify the person, not just the name.
• Have you already been approached or defrauded? Report it to the police (0900-8844) and to the Fraudehelpdesk (088-7867372, fraudehelpdesk.nl). Please let us know as well, so we can warn others, and the colleague involved.