Safety & Scam Prevention: A Student’s Guide to Finding Accommodation Abroad

Moving to a new country is exciting—but finding accommodation can quickly become stressful, especially when you’re unfamiliar with local systems. Unfortunately, international students are often targets for rental scams.

This guide will help you stay safe, avoid scams, and confidently secure your student accommodation.

🚨 Common Accommodation Scams Students Face

Before you can avoid scams, you need to recognize them.

1. Fake Listings

Scammers post attractive properties at very low prices to grab attention. These listings often use stolen images.

👉 Red flag: Price is too good to be true

2. Advance Payment Requests

You’re asked to pay a deposit before:

• Seeing the property

• Signing a contract

• Verifying the landlord

👉 Red flag: “Send payment now to secure the room”

3. Fake Landlords

Someone pretends to be the owner but has no real connection to the property.

👉 Red flag: Avoids video calls or in-person verification

4. Phishing & Fake Websites

You’re redirected to a fake payment page that looks real.

👉 Red flag: Suspicious links or unusual payment methods

✅ How to Stay Safe

1. Always Verify the Property

• Ask for a video tour

• Request recent photos

• Check if the address exists on Google Maps

2. Never Pay Without Confirmation

Only make payments when:

• You’ve verified the listing

• You trust the platform

• There’s a proper agreement in place

3. Use Trusted Platforms

Avoid random social media deals. Use platforms that:

Verify listings
Show real landlord profiles
Offer secure communication

4. Ask for Proper Documentation

Before confirming:

Rental agreement
Landlord identification
Property details

5. Avoid Untraceable Payments

Never use:

Gift cards
Cryptocurrency (unless verified platform)
Direct unknown bank transfers

Prefer:

Secure payment gateways (like Stripe)
Verified bank details

🔍 Quick Safety Checklist

Before booking, ask yourself:

Have I verified the landlord?
Have I seen the property (video/photos)?
Is the price realistic?
Am I using a trusted platform?
Is there a written agreement?

If any answer is NO → pause immediately

🏠 Tips for Booking from Abroad

Try to book temporary accommodation first
Connect with university housing offices
Join student groups for recommendations
Don’t rush—scammers rely on urgency

❤️ Final Advice

Finding the right accommodation takes time—but your safety comes first.

Always remember:

If something feels off, it probably is.

Take your time, verify everything, and use platforms designed specifically for students.

🎯 Why This Matters

At EdBirds, we understand the challenges students face when moving abroad. Our goal is to create a safe, transparent, and student-first housing experience—so you can focus on your studies, not your stress.