Spotting Fake Listings in Singapore: A Renter’s Field Guide

If a listing looks perfect and the price feels unreal, pause. In Singapore, fake rental listings often use three tricks: urgency, very low price, and confusing or missing identity. On Hozuko, verified listings carry a badge because the lister has passed identity checks. That does not make scams impossible, but it makes them much harder. Unverified listings have a far higher chance of being fake.

This guide shows you simple steps to stay safe.

1) Start with verification

• Look for the verification badge. This tells you the lister’s identity has been checked. A verified badge lowers risk. Without it, anyone can claim to be an owner or agent.
• Before any viewing, confirm the agent. If an “agent” is involved, search their name and phone number on the CEA Public Register before you make plans. If the number in your chat is not on the register, stop and walk away. ^{1 2 3}

2) Do a quick price smell-test

“Too good to be true” is the most common hook. Example: a “studio in one-north” for around $1,200. That is not realistic for that area and property type. Scammers use low price to push you into paying a “reservation” or “viewing” fee. SPF notes fake property listings are a major driver of rental scams, and low price is a recurring lure. ^{3 4}

How to smell-test fast:

• Compare a few listings in the same area and type.
• If one is 30–50% cheaper, treat it as a likely scam until strong proof appears.
• Never pay anything before an in-person viewing with the rightful keyholder. ^{3 5}

3) Do not pay to view

Legit landlords and agents do not ask you to pay just to view a unit. CEA says you do not need to pay to view. The Police also warn against paying before viewing and verifying. If someone says “transfer now or lose your slot”, that is a red flag. ^{5 3}

4) Check the basic rules (they filter out many fakes)

Some scammers promise short stays in condos. In Singapore private housing, the minimum stay is 3 consecutive months. Short-term stays below that are not allowed in normal private residential units. If their story conflicts with this, it is likely a scam. ^{6 7}

Tip: Some scammers call a normal condo a “serviced apartment”. True serviced apartments are run by licensed operators and have a minimum 7-day stay, with a different framework. Ask for the operator name and verify if unsure. ⁸

5) Red flags and what to do

6) Guard your data — avoid phishing traps

If the chat feels shady, it probably is. Trust your gut.

• Keep chats on Hozuko. We run scam monitoring on-platform. If our system detects a risky user, we flag them. Staying on-platform helps us protect you.
• Beware email grabs and long forms. Some scammers try to fish for data first. They ask for your email and send a long form to collect extra details. Do not share sensitive info (NRIC/FIN, passport, bank or card numbers, one-time passwords).
• Share later, not now. You can say, “I’ll share details after we verify your identity and set a viewing.”

7) At or before the viewing: prove people, place, permission

• People: Confirm the agent on the CEA Public Register before you go. At the viewing, the person you meet should be the same person and number you checked. ²
• Place: Make sure the unit you view matches the listing.
• Permission: Ask who owns the property and how the person showing it is allowed to rent it. If it is a tenant, subletting must be allowed.
• Paper trail: No Tenancy Agreement, no payment. When you do pay later, use traceable methods — crossed cheque or bank transfer to the owner, per CEA’s guidance. ⁵

8) After you sign: keep it compliant

• Minimum stay and occupancy: Private homes must follow the 3-month minimum stay and standard occupancy caps. Offers that break these rules are red flags. ^{6 7}
• Report scams: If you suspect a scam, call the Police or the scam helpline. Save your chat logs and receipts. ¹

Why the verification badge matters

On Hozuko, verified listings tie a listing to a real identity. This lowers risk. It does not make scams impossible — a scammer would need to hack a verified account or steal an identity — but it makes the scam much harder and easier to catch. When you see two similar listings, pick the verified one.

Quick checklist (save this)

1. Badge first: Prefer verified listings.
2. Price check: If it is much cheaper than others, assume scam.
3. No pay to view: Ever.
4. Verify agents early: Search the CEA Public Register for the name and phone number before any viewing.
5. Follow URA rules: No short-term stays in normal condos.
6. Stay on Hozuko chat: Our scam monitoring can flag risky users.
7. Protect your data: Do not share email or fill long forms until identity is verified.
8. Paper and trail: Tenancy Agreement first, then pay by bank transfer to the owner.
9. Trust your gut: If it feels off, it usually is.

References