SINGAPORE - The number of home rental scams via online platforms jumped fivefold in 2022 to 979 cases, from 192 cases in 2021.

Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development, revealed this in Parliament on Tuesday in response to a question from Ms Yeo Wan Ling (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) about the number of such scams in the past year.

Ms Yeo later told Parliament that she had spoken to a resident in Punggol whose address had been used by rental scammers multiple times, with many victims turning up at the unit with luggage, ready to move in.

Ms Sun said such scams, which were perpetuated on e-commerce and social media platforms, generally involved scammers impersonating property agents, and listing home rentals on these platforms.

Victims had come across these listings and contacted the scammers via the phone number listed.

The scammers, impersonating legitimate property agents, then sent victims pictures of the agent’s business card, and pictures or videos of the units.

Some scammers even posed as landlords, Ms Sun added.

She said scammers told victims they needed to place a deposit to secure either a viewing or to rent the unit, and would become uncontactable after the money was transferred.

On Tuesday, Ms Yeo had also asked whether the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would consider introducing more safeguards to protect home owners from liabilities when their homes were used in such scams.

Ms Sun said such home owners would not be penalised unless they were involved in perpetuating the scams.

She added that the police have been working with online platforms to remove suspicious accounts and advertisements, and are also working with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) to include advisories on rental scams on social media.

She said: “The best defence is a vigilant and discerning public. We encourage the public to verify the identity of the persons with whom you are dealing.”

Ms Sun said the public can check the CEA Public Register or contact the property agency directly to verify the identity of those claiming to be property agents.

Following Ms Sun’s reply, Ms Yeo asked whether MHA would be taking enforcement measures against online platforms used to perpetuate such scams.

Ms Yeo said the Punggol resident had told her his home had been used multiple times in home rental scams.

She said the victims had turned up over several months with their belongings ready to move in, but later understood the resident had nothing to do with the scam.

Ms Yeo asked how such home owners could be protected.

Ms Sun reiterated that home owners who are innocent would not be penalised, and that MHA had launched the E-Commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings in May 2022.

The ratings rate the major e-commerce marketplaces on the extent to which they have adopted a series of safety measures, and were updated this month.

The Straits Times reported in March that there were at least 305 people who fell prey to home rental scams in the first quarter of 2023.

Victims said they had quickly made deposits as they were desperate to secure a unit.

Scammers had also been offering “jobs” to people to make the posts on the different platforms on their behalf using their own personal accounts, lending the scams some legitimacy.

A woman who had made such a post said she did not know she was perpetuating a scam, and thought she was working for a legitimate property agent.

The property agent who was being impersonated said he was aware his identity was being used by scammers, and spent hours removing fake listings using his name as he was afraid his reputation would be affected.