Sun Xueling on combating online home rental scams
The number of home rental scams perpetrated via online platforms, such as e-commerce and social media, rose sharply from 192 cases in 2021 to 979 cases in 2022. These cases generally involved scammers impersonating property agents and listing home rentals on online platforms. Victims who came across these listings would call the scammers and transfer money as a deposit to secure a viewing or rent the unit. The scammers would be uncontactable after that. Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling, who gave this update in reply to an MP’s questions in Parliament on Tuesday (May 9), pointed out that the real homeowners whose units have been used in such scams will not be penalised unless they are involved in perpetuating these scams. She said the police have been working with online platforms to remove suspicious accounts and advertisements, as well as with the Council for Estate Agencies to include advisories on rental scams on its social media channels. She stressed that the best defence is a vigilant and discerning public.
The number of home rental scams perpetrated via online platforms, such as e-commerce and social media, rose sharply from 192 cases in 2021 to 979 cases in 2022. These cases generally involved scammers impersonating property agents and listing home rentals on online platforms. Victims who came across these listings would call the scammers and transfer money as a deposit to secure a viewing or rent the unit. The scammers would be uncontactable after that. Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling, who gave this update in reply to an MP’s questions in Parliament on Tuesday (May 9), pointed out that the real homeowners whose units have been used in such scams will not be penalised unless they are involved in perpetuating these scams. She said the police have been working with online platforms to remove suspicious accounts and advertisements, as well as with the Council for Estate Agencies to include advisories on rental scams on its social media channels. She stressed that the best defence is a vigilant and discerning public.
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