Rental Listing Scams in Georgia
Fake rental listings in Tbilisi target the city's growing expat and digital-nomad community with below-market apartments requiring deposits for properties that do not exist.
Part of: Rental Listing Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Tbilisi has seen an extraordinary influx of remote workers, digital nomads, and expatriates in recent years, creating intense demand for rental accommodation and pushing prices upward. This competition has made the Tbilisi rental market a fertile ground for fake listing scams, where phantom properties are advertised at attractive prices and deposits are collected before any keys are ever handed over.
Foreign arrivals — particularly those searching for accommodation from abroad before relocating — are the primary targets, as they cannot easily view properties in person before paying. English-language listings on international platforms and Facebook expat groups are the primary vectors.
How this scam works on Georgia
An attractive Tbilisi apartment listing appears on Facebook marketplace, expat group pages, or international platforms. The price is competitive for the neighbourhood — Vera, Vake, or Sololaki. The landlord is travelling or abroad and requests a deposit to hold the unit.
Photographs are stolen from legitimate Georgian real estate agency listings. The deposit is paid, the landlord goes silent, and the property either does not exist or is legitimately occupied. Multiple victims are sometimes simultaneously defrauded using the same listing.
Some scammers maintain contact for longer, sending fabricated lease contracts and promising keys are being posted, before eventually disappearing.
Common red flags
- The listed rent is significantly below comparable Tbilisi apartments in the same district.
- The landlord is abroad and requests a deposit without arranging a viewing.
- Listing photos reverse-image-search to a Georgian real estate agency website.
- Communication is exclusively via WhatsApp or Telegram with no verifiable landlord details.
- A lease document appears but has no verifiable signatory or company registration.
How to protect yourself
- Never pay a deposit without viewing the apartment in person.
- Ask a local friend, colleague, or trusted agent to view on your behalf if arriving from abroad.
- Verify property ownership at the National Agency of Public Registry (napr.gov.ge).
- Use licensed real estate agencies rather than private Facebook listings for significant deposits.
- Pay deposits only after a signed lease and identity verification of the landlord.
How to report it
- Report to Georgian Police and provide all correspondence and payment records.
- Report the Facebook or Telegram listing to those platforms.
- Contact your bank immediately if a deposit has been transferred.
Frequently asked questions
I'm relocating to Tbilisi as a digital nomad and can't view apartments before arriving — what's my safest option?
Ask a local contact, expat group member, or licensed Georgian real estate agent to view the property on your behalf before sending any deposit, rather than relying on photos or a video call from the 'landlord' alone.
The listing seems too good to be true for Vera or Vake — how far below market price should worry me?
Any listing noticeably below comparable properties in the same neighbourhood warrants extra scrutiny, especially combined with an unavailable landlord and a request to pay before viewing. Compare against several similar current listings to judge what's realistic.
How fast do these Tbilisi rental scams typically move from first contact to asking for a deposit?
Often within a single conversation or a day, since the scam depends on capturing payment before you have time for due diligence. A legitimate landlord or agent is generally comfortable with a slower, more thorough process.
Can I verify a Tbilisi property owner before paying a deposit?
Yes. The National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR) at napr.gov.ge allows ownership searches. A licensed Georgian real estate agent can assist with this verification before any payment is made.