{"id":89703,"date":"2018-09-18T14:40:45","date_gmt":"2018-09-18T12:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=89703"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:06","slug":"zo-voorkom-je-dat-je-wordt-opgelicht-door-de-kamermaffia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/09\/18\/zo-voorkom-je-dat-je-wordt-opgelicht-door-de-kamermaffia\/","title":{"rendered":"How to avoid being scammed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>EM has delved into the world of rental scammers in recent months. Some scam attempts can be spotted a mile off, but other scammers are much more sophisticated. How do you recognise a scammer? And what steps can you take to prevent them getting the better of you?<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1016\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/18143056\/kameroplichters-speuren-bas-van-der-schot-1280x1016.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89706\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/18143056\/kameroplichters-speuren-bas-van-der-schot-1280x1016.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/18143056\/kameroplichters-speuren-bas-van-der-schot-1280x1016-300x238.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/18143056\/kameroplichters-speuren-bas-van-der-schot-1280x1016-875x695.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/18143056\/kameroplichters-speuren-bas-van-der-schot-1280x1016-150x119.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/18143056\/kameroplichters-speuren-bas-van-der-schot-1280x1016-225x179.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p><span>How do you recognise a scammer?<\/span><\/p> <p data-component=\"image-credits\" class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center text-base\">\n\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M19.5 5.25H16.9012L15.6234 3.33375C15.555 3.23114 15.4623 3.147 15.3535 3.08879C15.2448 3.03057 15.1233 3.00007 15 3H9C8.87665 3.00007 8.75522 3.03057 8.64648 3.08879C8.53773 3.147 8.44502 3.23114 8.37656 3.33375L7.09781 5.25H4.5C3.90326 5.25 3.33097 5.48705 2.90901 5.90901C2.48705 6.33097 2.25 6.90326 2.25 7.5V18C2.25 18.5967 2.48705 19.169 2.90901 19.591C3.33097 20.0129 3.90326 20.25 4.5 20.25H19.5C20.0967 20.25 20.669 20.0129 21.091 19.591C21.5129 19.169 21.75 18.5967 21.75 18V7.5C21.75 6.90326 21.5129 6.33097 21.091 5.90901C20.669 5.48705 20.0967 5.25 19.5 5.25ZM15.375 12.375C15.375 13.0425 15.1771 13.695 14.8062 14.25C14.4354 14.8051 13.9083 15.2376 13.2916 15.4931C12.6749 15.7485 11.9963 15.8154 11.3416 15.6852C10.6869 15.5549 10.0855 15.2335 9.61351 14.7615C9.14151 14.2895 8.82007 13.6881 8.68985 13.0334C8.55962 12.3787 8.62646 11.7001 8.88191 11.0834C9.13735 10.4667 9.56993 9.93964 10.125 9.56879C10.68 9.19794 11.3325 9 12 9C12.8951 9 13.7535 9.35558 14.3865 9.98851C15.0194 10.6214 15.375 11.4799 15.375 12.375Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Bas van der Schot<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. The advertisement<\/h2>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts-list\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sr-only\">Een lijst met artikelen<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid items-strecth grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand  relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"325\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/16123215\/fraude-woningen-social-media-bas-van-der-schot-1280x905.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139150\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/16123215\/fraude-woningen-social-media-bas-van-der-schot-1280x905.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139150 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/16123215\/fraude-woningen-social-media-bas-van-der-schot-1280x905-300x212.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139150 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/16123215\/fraude-woningen-social-media-bas-van-der-schot-1280x905-875x619.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139150 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/16123215\/fraude-woningen-social-media-bas-van-der-schot-1280x905-150x106.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139150 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/16123215\/fraude-woningen-social-media-bas-van-der-schot-1280x905-225x159.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139150 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/08\/16\/undercover-with-the-student-housing-swindlers\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tUndercover with the student housing swindlers\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2018-08-16\">16 August 2018<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHousing\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p>The more general the advertisement, the more likely it is that the person doesn\u2019t know the local situation. Is the university close by? Are there shops in the neighbourhood? Is public transport easily accessible? Duh. That applies to every student city in the world. So don\u2019t be fooled by this. In the Netherlands, an advertisement should at least contain the address, the surface area of the room and photos.<\/p>\n<p>Google entire sentences from the advertisement to check whether someone is using the exact same advertisement elsewhere. Occasionally it will be a lazy estate agent, but it\u2019s usually a scammer.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The landlord<\/h2><p>Many scammers search for their victims via Facebook. The advantage is that it\u2019s reasonably easy to discover who you\u2019re dealing with. Is someone offering accommodation in Rotterdam but doesn\u2019t have any Facebook friends in Rotterdam? That\u2019s rather dubious.<\/p>\n<p>Check the pages and groups in which someone is active. Most scammers operate globally. It\u2019s highly unlikely that someone who genuinely wants to rent out a house in Rotterdam is also a member of student accommodation groups in, say, Toronto, Paris and Dublin.<\/p>\n<p>Another tip: check the Facebook ID of the person with whom you\u2019re communicating. You can find that in the URL. \u00a0If the name stated in the URL doesn\u2019t concur with the name on the profile, or there are just a series of figures, then you\u2019re probably dealing with someone who is pretending to be someone else.<\/p>\n<p>And there\u2019s the photos too. To come across as reliable, scammers often use photos of a woman or of a woman with a child. You can always use <em>reverse image search <\/em>\u00a0to check all the photos you find on a profile. It\u2019s not foolproof, but occasionally you come across a photo that is of someone else.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. The accommodation<\/h2>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts-list\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sr-only\">Een lijst met artikelen<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid items-strecth grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand  relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/24155459\/em-woning-bedrog-rotterdam-tent.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/24155459\/em-woning-bedrog-rotterdam-tent.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 3000w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/24155459\/em-woning-bedrog-rotterdam-tent-300x217.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/24155459\/em-woning-bedrog-rotterdam-tent-875x632.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/24155459\/em-woning-bedrog-rotterdam-tent-1280x925.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/24155459\/em-woning-bedrog-rotterdam-tent-1600x1156.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/24155459\/em-woning-bedrog-rotterdam-tent-150x108.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/08\/24155459\/em-woning-bedrog-rotterdam-tent-225x163.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/08\/24\/i-had-complete-faith-in-a-swindler\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\t\u2018I had complete faith in a swindler\u2019\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2018-08-24\">24 August 2018<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHousing\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p>You can also use reverse image search to check the photos of the apartment. Do they appear in an advertisement for another address, or in another city? Avoid like the plague.<\/p>\n<p>Google is your best friend if you want to check an address. Does it appear in old advertisements, or is it, for instance, also on hotel websites? Watch out, because that\u2019s probably how the scammer obtained the address. You can use Google Maps and Google Street View to check whether an address exists. Streetview is sometimes so detailed that you can read the house numbers.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also a good idea to compare the photos you\u2019ve received of the apartment with what you can see via Streetview. Look at the windows, for instance: do the number and shape concur with what is on the photos? Maybe you can see trees from the window on the photo, but on Streetview the street appears to have hardly any greenery.<\/p>\n<p>Also always ask who the building owner is. It\u2019s quick and cheap to use the cadastre to request ownership details about a house. For just 2.40 euro you can be certain whether someone is the real owner.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. The viewing<\/h2>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\tThe best advice: never pay in advance\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p>That an address exists doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re not being scammed. Always ask for a viewing. One of the most frequently used scammer tactics is to keep delaying a viewing. For instance, they say they\u2019re abroad or simply don\u2019t respond, or they ask you to make an advance payment first. So, even if you\u2019re actually unable to view the accommodation, make sure you ask for a viewing. If someone starts to delay a viewing, or they come up with excuses, then they\u2019re sure to be a scammer.<\/p>\n<p>Also be aware that an appointment for a viewing is no guarantee that you won\u2019t be scammed. Some scammers make a viewing appointment but don\u2019t show up. And there are even examples of scammers who hire a house for a week, arrange countless viewings, sign all these hire contracts, collect the deposit and first month\u2019s rent and then disappear.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. De betaling<\/h2>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts-list\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sr-only\">Een lijst met artikelen<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid items-strecth grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand  relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"307\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/05120606\/em-fake-ads-home-warning-facebook_Bas-van-der-Schot_2.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/05120606\/em-fake-ads-home-warning-facebook_Bas-van-der-Schot_2.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 2000w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/05120606\/em-fake-ads-home-warning-facebook_Bas-van-der-Schot_2-300x200.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/05120606\/em-fake-ads-home-warning-facebook_Bas-van-der-Schot_2-875x583.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/05120606\/em-fake-ads-home-warning-facebook_Bas-van-der-Schot_2-1280x853.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/05120606\/em-fake-ads-home-warning-facebook_Bas-van-der-Schot_2-1600x1066.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/05120606\/em-fake-ads-home-warning-facebook_Bas-van-der-Schot_2-150x100.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/05120606\/em-fake-ads-home-warning-facebook_Bas-van-der-Schot_2-225x150.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139152 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/09\/05\/saskia-fights-scammers\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tSaskia fights scamming \u2018landlords\u2019\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2018-09-05\">5 September 2018<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHousing\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p>The best advice: never pay in advance. But, if you\u2019re searching for accommodation from abroad, it\u2019s sometimes impossible to avoid doing this. So we\u2019d like to highlight a couple of ways here in which you should never pay.<\/p>\n<p>If someone asks you to transfer money via a payment service such as Western Union or MoneyGram, never do this, and never even consider it. This is clearly someone who is trying to scam you. Your \u2018landlord\u2019 or \u2018roommate\u2019 may try to convince you that it\u2019s a safe way of demonstrating that you can pay the rent, but it isn\u2019t. As soon as you show someone the receipt, that person can access the money within ten minutes, even if the payment was sent to a good friend or family member.<\/p>\n<p>Another method that scammers use a lot right now is a fake payment link. Your scammer may suggest transferring the payment via Airbnb, for instance, or a similar platform. He or she will send a link to a payment page that looks very much like an Airbnb payment page. But as soon as someone from outside such a platform asks you to pay via this platform, you can be almost certain that it\u2019s a scammer. So don\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n<p>A Dutch landlord will also never ask you to pay via an account abroad. So check the IBAN you receive from your contact person. A Dutch account number starts with NL and comprises 18 characters. If your contact person says that their Dutch account is blocked, or that it is handier if you pay to another account, just ignore it.<\/p>\n<p>Something else you can watch out for when paying: rental in the Netherlands is almost always arranged via a company or corporation. So, even private individuals who only own a couple of buildings would not ask you to make payments to their personal account.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. The communication<\/h2><p>The same also applies to communications with the person who wants to rent the accommodation to you. It\u2019s highly unlikely that communications about renting accommodation would only be arranged via a personal email address.<\/p>\n<p>Signal number one that you\u2019re dealing with a scammer is the language use. If someone\u2019s written English is very poor, full of mistakes and has hardly any punctuation, be careful. It could be that the scammer has poor command of the language, but it is more likely that the scammer is being consciously transparent. This is how they filter out people who are already a little sceptical, so that they don\u2019t spend too much time on these.<\/p>\n<p>Also be aware of the questions that the \u2018landlord\u2019 asks you. What does someone want to know about you? For instance, a real landlord will never ask whether you smoke, but will inform you that it is not permitted to smoke in an apartment.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. The tactics<\/h2>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts-list\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sr-only\">Een lijst met artikelen<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid items-strecth grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand  relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"402\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/12152151\/kameroplichters-tactieken-bas-van-der-schot.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/12152151\/kameroplichters-tactieken-bas-van-der-schot.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 2000w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/12152151\/kameroplichters-tactieken-bas-van-der-schot-300x262.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/12152151\/kameroplichters-tactieken-bas-van-der-schot-875x764.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/12152151\/kameroplichters-tactieken-bas-van-der-schot-1280x1117.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/12152151\/kameroplichters-tactieken-bas-van-der-schot-1600x1397.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/12152151\/kameroplichters-tactieken-bas-van-der-schot-150x131.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/09\/12152151\/kameroplichters-tactieken-bas-van-der-schot-225x196.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139153 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/09\/12\/oplichters-passen-dezelfde-tactieken-toe-als-tweedehands-auto-verkopers\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\t\u2018Scammers use the same tactics as used car dealers\u2019\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2018-09-12\">12 September 2018<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHousing\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p>Recognise the strategies that scammers use and the errors they make. To win your trust, they may say they need to use a lawyer, to help them draw up a contact, or sometimes they need to consult with them. Total nonsense, of course. Because in the Netherlands no lawyer is involved in renting accommodation.<\/p>\n<p>Something else you\u2019ll never come across with a real landlord is flexible conditions. In the Netherlands a room is empty or furnished. You can move in on a specific date. And that is not negotiable. Scammers sometimes compromise on these conditions. For instance, you can choose when you want to start renting, or you can choose how many rooms you want, or whether you want to hire for a short or long period. In reality it never works like this.<\/p>\n<p>What many scammers also do is try to prove that they are trustworthy. For instance, they offer references or send proof of identity to you. If you receive a copy of the passport from someone, then you know for sure that it\u2019s a scam. With a real landlord it\u2019s the other way around. You are the person who has to prove that you are a good tenant, you must prove that you can pay for the accommodation, and you must ultimately present proof of identity.<\/p>\n<p>And a final tip: never send a photo of your passport. If you send this to the wrong person, you run the risk that it will be used to scam others for years to come. It\u2019s fairly standard practice that you\u2019ll eventually have to hand over a copy of your passport. When you do this, make a copy, make your BSN number illegible and write on the copy why you\u2019ve made the copy before handing it over.<\/p>\n\n\t\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/persons\" class=\"mt-6 md:mt-8 lg:mt-10\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sr-only\">De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4 md:gap-8 md:items-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"teaser-person\" class=\"relative flex gap-4 items-center md:gap-8\">\n\n\t\t\t<span class=\"image:rounded-full image:size-20 image:aspect-square image:object-cover md:image:size-36 shrink-0\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Tim-Ficheroux_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-1600x1600.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313449\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Tim-Ficheroux_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-1600x1600.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313449 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Tim-Ficheroux_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-875x875.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313449 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Tim-Ficheroux_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-300x300.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313449 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Tim-Ficheroux_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-1280x1280.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313449 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Tim-Ficheroux_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-1536x1536.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313449 1536w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/Tim-Ficheroux_profielfoto-bol_Leroy-Verbeet-2026-2048x2048.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1768313449 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t<div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/persons\/tim-ficheroux\/\" class=\"absolute-link font-tiempos-headline underline hocus:no-underline decoration-1 underline-offset-2 text-lg text-current\">Tim Ficheroux<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"text-md\">Desk editor<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts\" class=\"alignfull py-6 md:py-8 lg:py-10 bg-white\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"container-fixed\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"text-xl md:text-2xl\">Latest news<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"post-grid\" class=\"grid items-stretch grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8 text-zoom-lg:grid-cols-1\n\t\t\n\t\tlg:grid-cols-3\n\t\t\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-sand hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/protest_plaza_verhoging-collegegeld_-tuition-increase_stuur_start__16.4.2026_esther-dijkstra-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776343820\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/protest_plaza_verhoging-collegegeld_-tuition-increase_stuur_start__16.4.2026_esther-dijkstra-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776343820 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/protest_plaza_verhoging-collegegeld_-tuition-increase_stuur_start__16.4.2026_esther-dijkstra-500x282.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776343820 500w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/protest_plaza_verhoging-collegegeld_-tuition-increase_stuur_start__16.4.2026_esther-dijkstra-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776343820 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/16\/muzikaal-protest-tegen-voorstel-verhoging-collegegeld-voor-niet-europese-studenten\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tMusical protest against proposal to raise tuition for non-European students\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-16\">16 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tCampus\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProtest\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/protest_plaza_verhoging-collegegeld_-tuition-increase_stuur_start__16.4.2026_esther-dijkstra-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776343820\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/protest_plaza_verhoging-collegegeld_-tuition-increase_stuur_start__16.4.2026_esther-dijkstra-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776343820 460w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/protest_plaza_verhoging-collegegeld_-tuition-increase_stuur_start__16.4.2026_esther-dijkstra-115x115.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776343820 115w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/protest_plaza_verhoging-collegegeld_-tuition-increase_stuur_start__16.4.2026_esther-dijkstra-230x230.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776343820 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/16\/muzikaal-protest-tegen-voorstel-verhoging-collegegeld-voor-niet-europese-studenten\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tMusical protest against proposal to raise tuition for non-European students\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-16\">16 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tCampus\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProtest\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-sand hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/uraad__university-counsel_erasmusmc_emc_voting_stemmen_students_15.4-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776333150\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/uraad__university-counsel_erasmusmc_emc_voting_stemmen_students_15.4-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776333150 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/uraad__university-counsel_erasmusmc_emc_voting_stemmen_students_15.4-500x282.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776333150 500w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/uraad__university-counsel_erasmusmc_emc_voting_stemmen_students_15.4-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776333150 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/16\/stemmen-voor-de-uraad-in-het-erasmus-mc-ik-hoop-dat-de-nieuwe-raad-iets-kan-doen-aan-studiestress\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tVoting for the University Council at Erasmus MC: \u2018I hope the new council can do something about study-related stress\u2019\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-16\">16 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tParticipation\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity Council\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/uraad__university-counsel_erasmusmc_emc_voting_stemmen_students_15.4-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776333150\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/uraad__university-counsel_erasmusmc_emc_voting_stemmen_students_15.4-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776333150 460w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/uraad__university-counsel_erasmusmc_emc_voting_stemmen_students_15.4-115x115.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776333150 115w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/uraad__university-counsel_erasmusmc_emc_voting_stemmen_students_15.4-230x230.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776333150 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/16\/stemmen-voor-de-uraad-in-het-erasmus-mc-ik-hoop-dat-de-nieuwe-raad-iets-kan-doen-aan-studiestress\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tVoting for the University Council at Erasmus MC: \u2018I hope the new council can do something about study-related stress\u2019\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-16\">16 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tParticipation\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tUniversity Council\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-mocha hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/BSA_afschaffen_advies_stress_moe_tired_examen__2026_Ami-Rinn-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776329422\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/BSA_afschaffen_advies_stress_moe_tired_examen__2026_Ami-Rinn-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776329422 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/BSA_afschaffen_advies_stress_moe_tired_examen__2026_Ami-Rinn-500x282.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776329422 500w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/BSA_afschaffen_advies_stress_moe_tired_examen__2026_Ami-Rinn-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776329422 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/16\/studiesucces-door-bindend-studieadvies-op-losse-schroeven-maar-eur-houdt-vast-aan-nominaalnormaal\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tStudy success through binding study advice on shaky ground, but EUR holds on to Nominal=Normal\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-16\">16 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tEducation\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-mocha lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/BSA_afschaffen_advies_stress_moe_tired_examen__2026_Ami-Rinn-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776329422\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/BSA_afschaffen_advies_stress_moe_tired_examen__2026_Ami-Rinn-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776329422 460w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/BSA_afschaffen_advies_stress_moe_tired_examen__2026_Ami-Rinn-115x115.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776329422 115w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/BSA_afschaffen_advies_stress_moe_tired_examen__2026_Ami-Rinn-230x230.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776329422 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/16\/studiesucces-door-bindend-studieadvies-op-losse-schroeven-maar-eur-houdt-vast-aan-nominaalnormaal\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tStudy success through binding study advice on shaky ground, but EUR holds on to Nominal=Normal\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-16\">16 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tEducation\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text-right text-brown-600\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n<a\n\tdata-variant=\"outline\"\n\tdata-size=\"default\"\n\tclass=\"group inline-flex justify-center items-center gap-2 cursor-pointer text-md font-soehne underline-offset-2 decoration-2 px-4 min-h-[3.75rem] border-2 border-current bg-transparent text-current font-bold hocus:underline w-full lg:w-auto\"\n\n\t\n\t\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span data-button-text class=\"\">\n\t\t\tAll articles\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\" flex items-center justify-center w-[1em] h-[1em] icon  \" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"20\" height=\"17\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 17\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M18.25 7.5C18.8023 7.5 19.25 7.94772 19.25 8.5C19.25 9.05228 18.8023 9.5 18.25 9.5H1.75C1.19772 9.5 0.75 9.05228 0.75 8.5C0.75 7.94772 1.19772 7.5 1.75 7.5H18.25Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<path d=\"M10.793 1.04295C11.1835 0.65243 11.8165 0.65243 12.207 1.04295L18.957 7.79295C19.3476 8.18348 19.3476 8.81649 18.957 9.20702L12.207 15.957C11.8165 16.3475 11.1835 16.3475 10.793 15.957C10.4024 15.5665 10.4024 14.9335 10.793 14.543L16.8359 8.49999L10.793 2.45702C10.4024 2.06649 10.4024 1.43348 10.793 1.04295Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EM has delved into the world of rental scammers in recent months. Some scam attempts can be spotted a mile off, but other scammers are much more sophisticated. How do you recognise a scammer? And what steps can you take to prevent them getting the better of you? 1. The advertisement The more general the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":89706,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_trash_the_other_posts":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[3800],"em_content_type":[],"class_list":["post-89703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-housing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to avoid being scammed<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How do you recognise a rental scammer? And how do you prevent yourself being scammed in your search for a living space?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/09\/18\/zo-voorkom-je-dat-je-wordt-opgelicht-door-de-kamermaffia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to avoid being scammed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How do you recognise a rental scammer? 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