Rental Listing Scams in Cyprus
Fraudulent rental advertisements on popular property portals target international buyers and short-term tenants seeking property in Cyprus's competitive real-estate market.
Part of: Rental Listing Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Cyprus attracts a large volume of foreign nationals seeking holiday lets, long-term rentals, and property investment — particularly from the UK, Russia, Israel, and Middle Eastern countries. This international demand creates fertile ground for rental listing scams, where properties are advertised at below-market prices, a deposit is requested to 'secure' the listing, and the fraudster disappears before keys are ever handed over.
The scams range from outright fabrications to 'phantom' listings that copy photos from legitimate advertisements and relist them at a lower price, often targeting people conducting their search from abroad and unable to view the property in person before paying.
How this scam works on Cyprus
A victim finds an attractively priced rental or holiday apartment on a property portal, Facebook group, or Airbnb-style platform. The 'landlord' — communicating by email or WhatsApp — explains they are abroad and unable to show the property but is willing to send keys after receiving a deposit via bank transfer.
The deposit is paid, keys never arrive, and the listing disappears. Some scammers maintain the fraud longer, collecting deposits from multiple victims simultaneously. In Cyprus, the scam often involves properties in Limassol, Paphos, or Nicosia that are legitimately for rent or sale but whose photos have been copied without authorisation.
For long-term rentals targeting relocation applicants, scammers sometimes conduct fake video viewings using footage of the real property sourced from online listings, making the deception more convincing.
Common red flags
- The rent is significantly below comparable properties in the same area.
- The landlord is conveniently abroad and cannot arrange a viewing.
- Payment of a deposit by bank transfer or Western Union is required before any viewing or signing.
- The listing photos match a property being advertised elsewhere at a different price — reverse-image-search them.
- Communication is only via WhatsApp or personal email rather than through the platform's secure messaging.
- The landlord pressures you to pay quickly to 'beat other interested tenants'.
How to protect yourself
- Never pay a deposit without viewing the property in person or through a trusted local agent.
- Always verify the landlord's identity and ownership through the Cyprus Land Registry (Department of Lands and Surveys).
- Reverse-image-search listing photos to check they have not been copied from other sites.
- Use a reputable estate agent registered with RICS Cyprus or the Cyprus Real Estate Agents Registration Council.
- Pay any deposit through a secure, traceable method that offers some dispute resolution.
- Request a signed tenancy agreement before any payment changes hands.
How to report it
- Report to the Cyprus Police and provide all correspondence and payment records.
- Notify the property portal where the listing appeared to have it removed.
- Contact your bank if you have transferred funds — some reversals are possible within a short window.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check property ownership in Cyprus before paying a deposit?
Yes. The Department of Lands and Surveys (DLS) allows ownership searches. A reputable agent can assist with this, and it is strongly recommended for any significant deposit.