Estonian woman loses nearly €2,000 through accommodation fraud
A woman searching for a rental apartment in Portugal fell victim to scammers who exploited a well-known property portal. The victim shares her experience as a warning to others.
Estonian woman loses nearly €2,000 through accommodation fraud
Marianna (name known to the editor but changed) wanted to spend a few months in Southern Europe. She began searching for temporary accommodation in Portugal and found a suitable offer on a large property website. This marked the beginning of a fraud that resulted in financial loss.
"I was planning to spend a couple of months there and was searching for a rental apartment on a local portal. I found a good price and got in touch with the provider," the woman explains. The scammers had done their preparation: they sent a convincing confirmation document and managed to build trust with the victim.
When the transfer had been made, it became clear that it was fraud. Marianna admits that she still feels uncomfortable about having transferred the money herself. However, she wants to publicise her story to prevent others from suffering a similar misfortune.
"The police confirmed that this was a well-planned scheme. Even cautious people can become victims of such criminals," she says.
Fraud involving travel services has become more common in recent years. Victims often believe that only careless people fall victim, but practice shows that anyone can become a target of scammers. Marianna's story serves as a warning to everyone booking accommodation abroad.
Source: Eesti Naine
Source: Google News EE — Crime (et)