The warning signs, as the police describe them
| Warning sign | What it looks like | Named by |
|---|---|---|
| Too good to be true | Attractive area, rent far below the market | SKP, cybercrimepolice.ch |
| Owner is abroad | Work abroad, cannot come to a viewing | SKP, cybercrimepolice.ch |
| Key against deposit | The key is promised once you pay | SKP, cybercrimepolice.ch |
| No viewing at all | The flat is offered unseen against a deposit | SKP, cybercrimepolice.ch |
| Cancelled viewing | A date is set, then cancelled on a pretext | cybercrimepolice.ch |
| ID by email | A copy of your ID and personal details are requested early | cybercrimepolice.ch |
| Unusual payment | Deposit before any contract, through a money transfer service | SKP, cybercrimepolice.ch |
| Poor language | Spelling and grammar mistakes in the advert or the messages | cybercrimepolice.ch |
Sources: Swiss Crime Prevention (SKP), "Betrug bei der Wohnungssuche", 13 February 2019, and cybercrimepolice.ch, "Immobilienbetrug", 28 May 2024.
Six checks before you answer
- Check that the address exists.
- Check whether the same advert appears on other websites.
- Phone the advertiser. Do not rely on messenger apps alone.
- Ask the property management whether the flat is really for rent.
- Run a reverse image search on the photos if you are unsure.
- Pay nothing before a viewing and a valid lease.
These checks are the advice of cybercrimepolice.ch (2024).
What the law says about the deposit
A deposit for a flat must be placed with a bank, in a savings account or deposit in the tenant's name. For homes it may be at most three months' rent (Art. 257e OR). A deposit sent to a private person or through a money transfer service does not fit this rule.
If you have already paid
cybercrimepolice.ch gives three steps: report the advert to the platform, ask your bank to block or recall the payment, and file a criminal complaint at your police station.
How aptari handles your documents
Fraudsters want your ID as much as your money, so think about who receives your papers. With the Tenant Passport on aptari you send a private link, not attachments. Documents open after the advertiser has confirmed a work email, you see when the link is opened, and it ends after 30 days or earlier when the listing goes offline. In the aptari feed every advert from Homegate, ImmoScout24, Flatfox and about 800 cooperative websites is its own card, so the same flat can appear once per portal: 60% of the homes are advertised on two or more portals (aptari feed, 9 November 2026). aptari cannot tell you that an advert is real. The checks above stay your job.
This is general information, not legal advice.