Recently, a case of false rental information fraud targeting international students has attracted attention. International student David (pseudonym) paid a deposit without physically inspecting the "low-priced housing" advertisement on the internet, but ultimately encountered the dilemma of losing contact with the "landlord" and being unable to open the door with the key.

It is reported that David saw a rental advertisement on social media, claiming to rent an apartment with a superior location and low price. Due to the rent being much lower than the market average, David took the initiative to contact the "landlord" who posted the advertisement. The other party stated that they are currently abroad and cannot personally show the house, but can provide photos and videos of the house. After reviewing the information provided by the other party, David was very satisfied with the property and paid the deposit as requested.

However, when David went to the apartment as scheduled to move in, he found that the key couldn't open the door at all. At this moment, David realized that he had been deceived, and the 'landlord' had already gone missing.

The police investigation found that such fraudulent methods mainly target the group of international students, taking advantage of their unfamiliarity with the local rental market and their desire for cheap prices to commit fraud. Scammers usually release false rental information through the internet, using "low-priced housing" as bait to induce victims to pay deposits, and eventually disappear without a trace after defrauding funds.

Regarding this type of fraud, we remind international students to:

1. Do not trust rental advertisements on the internet, and do not pay any form of deposit or rent without visiting the property in person.

2. Beware of the trap of "low-priced housing".

3. Choose a legitimate rental channel.

4. Sign a formal rental contract. Carefully read the contract terms and keep the relevant documents.

作者：邢露萍（海外教育学院） 审核：朱丹