Property scams in Singapore: what to watch for
What Singapore’s official sources say to look out for, whether you are renting, letting, buying or selling. Each point links to its source.
If you are renting
- The most common rental scam: someone posts a fake listing (often on Facebook, Carousell or rental sites) and poses as a real CEA-registered agent, sending agent passes, business cards and photos or videos of the unit, but from a phone number that is not the agent's registered one.police.gov.sg ↗
- Police received more than 430 reports of this scam between January and October 2024, with losses of at least $2.7 million. Most of the talk happens on WhatsApp.police.gov.sg ↗
- Be wary of pressure to pay fast: claims that the unit is 'first come, first served', that others are waiting, or that you must pay several months' rent in advance to secure it. After payment the 'agent' stops replying.cea.gov.sg ↗
- You do not need to pay anything to view a property or to secure a rental. A request for a deposit before you have viewed the unit is a warning sign.cea.gov.sg ↗
- Some scammers send a 'colleague' or 'personal assistant' to show you the unit because the agent is 'busy', then ask for your particulars and for rent or a deposit by bank transfer or PayNow, often to the assistant's account.police.gov.sg ↗
- Scammers may also pose as the landlord, or say the landlord is abroad. In one CEA case the 'agent' used a Malaysian number and said he was based in Malaysia; in another the advertised unit was 'unavailable' and a different one was offered.cea.gov.sg ↗
- Newer tricks: spoofing the real agent's registered number to call you, and showing a fake CEA email saying a new number takes 14 days to appear on the register. CEA sends no such emails; number changes show on the register at once.cea.gov.sg ↗
- No stamp duty or ABSD is paid to an agent to 'secure' a rental, and ABSD does not apply to tenancy agreements. Tenancy stamp duty is paid to IRAS (via GIRO, AXS or PayNow); fake stamp certificates and 'refundable stamp duty' requests are a known scam.iras.gov.sg ↗
How to check
- Search the phone number you were given (or the one in the ad) on CEA's Public Register. If it does not open an agent's profile, the number is not registered, and it is likely a scam even if the name and registration number are real.cea.gov.sg ↗
- The register also shows whether the registration is valid, the agent's residential deals in the last two years, awards, and any disciplinary records.cea.gov.sg ↗
- Property ads must show the agent's name, CEA registration number and phone number, plus the agency's name and licence number. Missing or unverifiable details may mean the ad is not from a real agent.cea.gov.sg ↗
- If you suspect impersonation, contact the agent on their registered number or through their agency, not the number in the ad.cea.gov.sg ↗
- View the property in person with the registered agent before paying anything.police.gov.sg ↗
- Agents may not collect payments to view or rent a property. Pay the owner directly into their verified account by a traceable method such as bank transfer or crossed cheque; never a 'personal assistant' or an unverified PayNow number.police.gov.sg ↗
- Check who owns the property: an ownership record through SLA's INLIS for private property, or HDB's My HDBPage for public housing.cea.gov.sg ↗
- Use the ScamShield app or website to check suspicious messages, phone numbers and links, and call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799 if unsure.police.gov.sg ↗
If something feels wrong
- Stop replying to the person and do not send more money, personal details, bank or card details.cea.gov.sg ↗
- If you have lost money, lodge a police report. For information on a scam, call the Police Hotline on 1800-255-0000 or submit it at police.gov.sg/iwitness; in an emergency dial 999.police.gov.sg ↗
- Not sure if it is a scam? Call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799 (24 hours).cea.gov.sg ↗
- Report fake listings to the platform where you saw them, such as Facebook or Carousell, and tell family and friends.police.gov.sg ↗
- If you paid through your bank or entered bank details, report it to your bank immediately.police.gov.sg ↗
- Government officers will never ask you to transfer money, give bank login details or transfer your call to the police. Official websites end in .gov.sg.cea.gov.sg ↗
On Property.co
- Every owner listing is checked before it goes live, and any listing can be reported with evidence. We act on confirmed reports and keep confirmed scam contacts on a private list, so they can’t reach you through the site.
- We don’t publish lists of named people: a wrong report could harm an innocent person. If you were scammed, report it to the police.
Checked against the sources on 11 Oct 2026. This is general guidance, not legal advice.