If you’re house-hunting, you might want to read this before paying a deposit. A Malaysian woman recently shared her experience of almost falling for a rental scam in Eko Cheras and Vivo Seputeh.
The fraudsters disguised Airbnb units as long-term rentals to trick potential tenants into transferring deposits.
The post by the woman, Scha Salleh, on Threads, has since gone viral and it turns out many others have also been scammed the same way.
Too good to be true
Scha Salleh, who was actively looking for a rental home, booked viewings at two different units, one at Eko Cheras and another at Vivo Seputeh, from Mudah.my.
In both cases, the setup seemed too perfect, a clean and fully furnished home with neatly arranged towels, WiFi, and even basic toiletries.
The moment I stepped in, I saw the towels were rolled up exactly like Airbnb ones. That’s when I knew something was off,” she recalled.
Her suspicions deepened when she asked whether the unit came with bedsheets, towels, and WiFi, and the so-called landlord responded, “Yes, I give for you lahh 🥰.”
She then questioned the rent price, which was set at RM1,800, despite similar units in the area going for RM2,500.
Instead of giving a proper explanation, the scammer tried to pressure her into transferring a deposit immediately, claiming that there were many other interested tenants.
If you book now, I’ll send you the PDF rental agreement. So many people want this unit,” the person told her.
Sensing something was wrong, she refused to make any payment. At that moment, the scammer suddenly tried to rush out of the unit, further confirming her doubts.
Contact frequently reported as scammer
Speaking to WeirdKaya, Scha Salleh shared that she didn’t think much of it and let the scammer leave.
A few hours later, I decided to check the phone number on GetContact and even asked a police friend for help.”
That’s when she discovered multiple reports against the number, confirming that the person was indeed a scammer.
Her second encounter with a different scammer at Vivo Seputeh was even more deceptive.
This time, the fraudster hid all the essentials that made the unit look like an Airbnb but when she opened the wardrobe, she found towels, dish soap, a broom, and other household supplies neatly placed inside.
I knew it was a scam the moment I saw those things. Plus, I could smell Maggi when I entered the unit—clear proof someone was actually staying there.”
However, Scha Salleh just left the house without confronting the person as he was with a friend, but she was all alone.
More Victims Turned Up
After sharing her experience online, the woman realised she was not alone.
Many people have already transferred money, thinking it was a legitimate rental. One person almost got scammed but saw my post in time and stopped the transaction,” she said.
Her case shed light on a larger issue, as netizens flooded the comments with similar experiences of encountering fraudulent landlords.
Read Scha Salleh’s and other victims’ encounters here.
View on Threads
**Special thanks to Scha Salleh for sharing her story.
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