Is it safe to rent a student room or accommodation on skot.be?
We monitor all listings on our site for any suspicious activity, which makes us fairly confident in the security of our listings. However, it’s important to remain vigilant because there are always scammers trying to post new listings and find new victims.
Precautions to take
To minimize risks, we recommend taking the following precautions:
- Visit the property and meet the owner before deciding to send any money.
- Ask to see identification and property-related documents. If in doubt, verify the owner’s name via the cadastral data.
- Check how long the advertiser’s account has been active on our site: scammers often create fake accounts and operate for only a few days before disappearing.
Methods used by scammers
It’s important to know the methods scammers use so you can protect yourself. Here are some of the techniques they employ:
- They try to make their ads very attractive, but if the listing seems too good to be true, proceed with caution.
- They may hesitate to meet you in person or insist that you only contact them via private email.
- They often ask you to use money transfer services like Western Union, PayPal, or bank transfers outside Belgium.
- They want you to send money as quickly as possible and may use pressure tactics to rush you.
Tips to stay safe
To stay safe, it’s important to:
- Keep an emotional distance and think critically about the offer.
- Be prepared to walk away from a listing if you notice anything suspicious.
- Never send money before you have visited the property and met the owner.
What to do if you suspect a scam
- If you believe an advertiser is trying to scam you, please contact us so we can remove the listing and warn other users.
Identity theft
If you think you have sent identity documents (ID card, bank statements, pay slips, etc.) to a fraudster, here are measures you can take to prevent identity theft:
- Take screenshots of all communications you had with the fraudster.
- No need for a police report unless extortion or blackmail is involved, but you can record the incident via an informational report at your local police station.
- Notify your employer/HR department and your financial and tax institutions.
- Regularly check your bank accounts and credit cards.
- Report it to the Belgian Cybersecurity Center (Safeonweb).
- Inform your bank to strengthen the security of your accounts.
- Check your credit history via the National Bank of Belgium.
- Report the risk to SPF Finances to block any potential fraudulent tax filings.
And if the fraud is confirmed:
- File a complaint immediately with evidence (emails, screenshots).
- Report the loss or theft of your identity documents:
- Electronic ID card (eID): go immediately to your municipal administration to report the loss or theft.
- Passport: report it as soon as possible to your municipal passport office (or the embassy/consulate if you are abroad).
Useful resources