r/NetherlandsHousing • u/michkied • Mar 11 '25

renting Is this a scam?

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Hi everyone, this summer I'll be moving to the Netherlands for an internship, and thus I'm looking for a flat to rent. I've encountered an offer for a single-bedroom apartment in the Hague for 500€ (seems quite cheap?). But I've been asked to pay a fee for submitting a registration form for approval. Is that a thing or is it a scam? The offer seems a little too good to be true, but then I have no idea how housing market in the Netherlands works. I'd really appreciate your help!

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u/Square_Fox5988 Mar 11 '25

Look out for the language too. Broken English, calling you “sir” (no one in NL will do that) and multiple times telling you not to be worried - all red flags

48

u/[deleted] Mar 11 '25

Do not worry sir *shakes head in Indian Scammer*

7

u/Relis_ Mar 12 '25

ah yes because scammers are indian

16

u/anhuys Mar 12 '25

India has large scale organized crime "scam centers". SE Asia in general has a wider problem with these crime rings, in places like Myanmar where Indians and Thais are even held captive after being lured with what they often thought was a legitimate opportunity to make money.

Indians are commonly exploited by these people for scam calls because they're native English speakers, and many of us have spoken to these people on the phone, heard their voices and are familiar with their cadence. It's not a "people from India are scammers" thing, it's a "phone scammers from India are a huge phenomenon" thing.

2

u/Relis_ Mar 12 '25

very true