Online-House Hunting Scams; How Kenyan Actor Pascal Tokodi Became a Victim
House hunting can be a tedious process if you are looking forward to moving to a new house or have a plan to buy one.
Babra Adhiambo
House hunting can be a tedious process if you are looking forward to moving to a new house or have a plan to buy one. Unfortunately, most scammers in Nairobi have taken advantage of this and are now using online platforms to trap those searching for houses through the internet. Most people have fallen for this trap, including Selina's actor Pascal Tokodi.
The actor, through his YouTube channel, narrated how he was conned while house-hunting online.
" I was moving out to a different house, so I looked for houses online and I came across this amazing house in Karen," said Tokodi.
He went ahead to inquire about the house, a guy whom he described a nice old man that the house had already been taken but the person had not yet given a commitment and had only just booked it.
"How much more can I offer so that I can get the house? He told me a certain amount which I paid and after making all the payment I asked if I could see the house, which he agreed to. I went where we agreed to meet but later waited for hours, I tried to call him he did not pick the calls and that is when it dawned on me that I was scammed, later the number was traced only to realize that the conman was staying in Umoja" Tokodi mentioned.
What to do when you are house hunting online
Don’t be in a rush
When you come across someone who asks you to quickly make a down payment without confirming the viability of the property for yourself then you should already see it as a red flag since most professional and legitimate agents will never ask you to do so.
Properly do your research
This is key as it will help you differentiate between real and fake ads. Check the rent prices in the areas that you consider moving in for you to know what to expect as far as price is concerned.
Don’t pay for what you have not seen
Most scammers will not allow you to see the property or even to meet the agent in person. They will always resort to giving out excuses. Visiting the site will also ensure that the house exists and it meets your standards.
Make sure you sign a Lease Agreement
The lease agreement will not only shield you from a scammer but will also help you in securing your rent deposit. To ensure that the house is legally rented look for the owners' name in the lease agreement.
Too Good
When the deal is too good think twice. If the house advertised does not match the price, size location, and amenities near it, then you should do your research before committing your money to it. Look out for blurry photos, many grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and ensure that the pictures match each other.
