I paid the deposit. The flat wasn't for rent.

I was desperate for a place—short notice, tight budget, and every viewing felt like a competition. When a flat looked perfect online I wired the deposit the same day because the "landlord" said others were ready to pay. The property was not even for rent.

The listing had believable photos, a fair price, and fast replies on WhatsApp. They said I had to secure it before a contract arrived, so I sent thousands and waited for keys that never came. They promised paperwork "tomorrow" until the replies slowed.

The address was real but the ad was hijacked or cloned—the person living there had never listed it. My money landed in a stranger's account, and when I knocked with a friend the resident had no idea who I was.

I told myself speed was normal in a hot market. Part of me wanted to view in person first, but I was afraid I would lose the flat, so I skipped basic checks on the agent or building.

At the door someone said they had lived there for years while the listing site pulled the ad after my report. That mismatch—real building, fake landlord—was when I knew the deposit was gone.

I lost money I needed for a real deposit elsewhere, and explaining to family why I was still between sofas hurt almost as much as the balance. The shame lingered after the wire was irreversible.

I now pay only after I have seen the inside and verified who controls the property through independent sources. I wish I had walked away the moment someone rushed a wire.

• View in person before paying; verify landlords via building managers or land registry where available.
• Wires are hard to reverse—report rental fraud to police and your bank.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.