Its hard enough to find decent, affordable apartment rentals in Paris, but now there are more and more reports of rental scams on innocent foreign visitors. Its easy to get duped into thinking you found a good deal. Keep in mind that anything that sounds too good to be true probably is. Trust your gut – if the owner or agent says he cannot get you a lease or contract, you should feel worried and walk away. The best deal in the world is not worth the panic or heartache you might feel as you worry about your vacation.
One of these scams is offering one apartment and then giving another. If you have talked to an agent or owner and are ready to get the ball rolling on your apartment rentals, make sure your contract is appropriate. Ensure that the contract mentions the number of rooms, size of the space and the amenities. If your agent assures you that there will be Wi-Fi and you find this crucial, make sure that the contract states that there is Wi-Fi. This gives you recourse if you find that your location is not suitable. Do not sign an “As is” lease if you are not completely sure about the agent or owner. The terms of an “as is” lease will probably not be favorable to you as a renter.
Do not rent from anyone that demands you give a deposit via Western Union for their apartment rentals. Any legitimate company will have a PayPal account or accept cash on arrival. A Western Union payment is cash and will be in their hands long before you find out that the apartment you rented doesn’t exist.
Check out your rental company or owner thoroughly. A professional-looking website is not enough – if the company is legit, then there should be reviews somewhere on the web of their services. There are several sites that review travel companies or rental organizations, and you should make sure that they are listed and reviewed positively on these sites. Don’t just go by references – these references offered by the rental company can just as easily be fellow scammers trying to lure you in.
Again, trust your instinct. If you feel wary, this is probably for a reason. Ask around, check out the company on-line, and don’t give money to anyone or sign anything if you feel at all wary about the situation.