Rental Listing Scams in Greece
Fraudulent holiday and long-term rental listings on Greek portals and Airbnb target tourists and residents in Athens, Thessaloniki and the Greek islands.
Part of: Rental Listing Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Greece's booming tourism industry and tight urban rental market in Athens and Thessaloniki create a dual target for rental fraud. Fraudulent listings appear on Spitogatos, XE.gr and Airbnb, targeting both tourists seeking short-term island rentals and residents needing long-term accommodation in overheated city markets.
The Hellenic Consumer Ombudsman and the Cybercrime Division of the Hellenic Police receive consistent reports of rental scams, with peaks during summer when island-rental demand significantly exceeds supply and tourists are less able to verify listings in person.
How this scam works on Greece
Fraudulent island-villa listings on Airbnb or Facebook Marketplace present scraped photos of genuine properties in Santorini, Mykonos or Crete at below-market prices. A 'landlord' communicates in fluent English or Greek, explaining they are abroad and will send keys after a deposit equivalent to the full booking amount is transferred outside the platform.
In Athens, long-term rental fraud targets students and young professionals with listings on Spitogatos and XE.gr. Photos are taken from legitimate estate-agency sites. The 'ιδιοκτήτης' (owner) insists on a three-month deposit via bank transfer before any viewing.
Greek island tourism fraud often involves fake holiday apartment agencies that collect full-payment deposits through websites with no physical Greek presence, disappearing after the booking window closes.
Common red flags
- Rental price well below market for the location and season
- Landlord or owner cannot meet in person or show the property before payment
- Request for deposit payment outside the official booking platform
- Communication only via WhatsApp with a foreign mobile number
- Booking agency website with no verifiable Greek company registration (ΑΦΜ)
- Listing photos appear on multiple different sites or reverse-image search reveals other locations
How to protect yourself
- Always view a long-term rental in person before any payment in Greece
- Book short-term holiday rentals through established platforms and never transfer money outside them
- Verify property ownership through the Greek Cadastre at ktimatologio.gr
- Check any agency's tax registration number (ΑΦΜ) at the Greek Tax Authority portal
- Pay deposits only after a notarised tenancy agreement ('μισθωτήριο') is signed
How to report it
- Hellenic Police Cybercrime Division: cybercrimeunit.gr — online crime report
- Hellenic Consumer Ombudsman: synigoroskatanaloti.gr — consumer complaint
- Tax Authority (ΑΑΔΕ): aade.gr — report fraudulent ΑΦΜ usage
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to book a Greek island rental through Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace offers no payment protection for rentals. Always use established booking platforms and pay through them. Treat any Facebook rental requiring external payment as very high risk.