"I've been searching for a rental apartment for the first time in years, and one thing was immediately clear: the market has changed dramatically. The prices are much higher, options for long-term rentals are very limited, and scams are everywhere. At The Local Italy we've heard from many people who've been stung or had a near miss with scammers preying on people making an international move. We've reported how rental scams have increased in recent years."
"The most obvious would-be scammer I encountered, fortunately only by email (they claimed to be away working in Madrid), really irked me as they were so clearly targeting foreigners. Alarm bells rang immediately when they sent an email in response to my enquiry. In Italy, you're much more likely to get a brief message with a phone number. The email turned out to be long and detailed - another big, waving red flag -"
Apartment hunting in Florence now features higher prices, scarce long-term rental options, and pervasive rental scams. Scammers frequently target foreigners and follow predictable patterns. Common red flags include lengthy, detailed emails instead of brief phone-first replies; complex pricing offering discounts for multi-month advance payments; promises that pets are allowed, deposits are fully protected, furnishings insured, and residency registration is possible; and refusal to meet in person. Scammers may push payments via third-party platforms like Booking.com, request ID upfront, and use overly perfect photos. Rental scams have increased in recent years, leaving many renters vulnerable.
Read at www.thelocal.it
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