Rental Scam — Fake Property Listings

Rental scams are a growing problem in Malaysia, targeting tenants searching for affordable housing on platforms like Mudah.my, Facebook Marketplace, Carousell, and even PropertyGuru. Victims pay deposits and advance rent for properties that either do not exist, are not owned by the "landlord," or are already occupied by other tenants who were also scammed.

**How it works:**

1. The listing — A property is advertised at a below-market price. Photos may be stolen from legitimate listings or property agent websites. The listing often claims "owner direct, no agent fees."

1. The urgency — The scammer tells you the unit is in high demand and you must pay a deposit immediately to secure it. "Another viewer is coming tomorrow" or "I have three offers already."

1. The deposit — You are asked to transfer a deposit (typically 2-3 months' rent plus a security deposit) to a personal bank account. The scammer may provide a fake tenancy agreement and even a copy of what appears to be the property title.

1. The disappearance — After payment, the "landlord" becomes unreachable. When you arrive to collect the keys, you discover the property is occupied, does not exist at the address given, or belongs to someone else entirely.

In May 2026, rental scam victims expressed frustration at the lack of action by authorities, with some losing tens of thousands of ringgit to serial scammers operating across multiple platforms.

How to check if a rental listing is real in Malaysia?

Always view the property in person before paying anything, request a copy of the property title (geran) and verify the owner's name matches the landlord's IC, and reverse-image-search the listing photos to check if they were stolen from another website.

Is it safe to pay rental deposit by bank transfer in Malaysia?

Never transfer a rental deposit to a personal bank account. Insist on paying to a registered company account or through a platform's secure payment feature, and only after you have viewed the property and signed a stamped tenancy agreement in person.

What to do if I got scammed by a fake landlord in Malaysia?

Call the NSRC at 997 immediately, contact your bank's fraud hotline to attempt to freeze the transaction, lodge a police report at your nearest station, and check the scammer's bank account on SemakMule at semakmule.rmp.gov.my.