TO AVOID falling prey to the con men, the police said that tenants should request that all parties - including landlords and agents - be present when signing the tenancy documents.
They should also avoid making large payments in cash, its spokesman said.
When it comes to dealing with property agents, the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) said that tenants should use accredited agents and check with the property firms to ensure that these are bona fide agents, before engaging their services.
Dr Tan Tee Khoon, chief of Singapore Accredited Estate Agencies, said tenants could do an online check on the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore's website, to make sure landlords are the genuine homeowners before they sign tenancy agreements or make any payments.
'Online scams are dangerous because one can easily conceal his identity and it'll be hard to trace the crime back to him and if he works fast enough, he can fleece people just like that,' said Dr Tan.
Source: Straits Times, 14 May 2010
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