There has recently been a worrying trend of scammers approaching potential guests on social media and posing as representatives of Flatio, a legal rental accommodation platform.
The latest scams involve profiles with the following names:
- Kesha Ham/Kesha Kesha (who contacted potential guests via the fake email: [email protected])
- Lotario Aviles (who contacted potential guests via the fake email: [email protected])
- Amadoe Nunez (who contacted potential guests via the fake email: [email protected])
- Zuch Ann-Christine
- Brigitte Linz
- Nancy Moore
- Fransizka Oliver Theiler
- Clairette De Rycke
- Vivienne Aebi
- Zenaida Kopp
Flatio has reported the fake ads and profiles to Facebook and urges users who have received a message from these scammers to do the same.
As can be seen in the screenshots below, users can easily report a suspicious listing by clicking on "Report listing" and then reporting it as a "Scam". They can also report suspicious profiles by clicking on the "Report" button (see below).
Some potential guests were not only asked by the fraudsters to transfer money for the non-existent services, but also received fake invoices with Flatio’s name and logo.
Also, as part of one of the scams, a domain (flatio.rentals) was registered with hidden credentials, which closely mimics our legitimate website www.flatio.com.
Here are examples of a fake invoice:
Here’s an example of a fake URL (flatio.rentals):
Here's another example of a fake URL (https://flatio.eu-searchresults-longterm.pics):
IMPORTANT NOTE: The fake page above has a "VIEW INVOICE" button, which is NOT found on the official Flatio website when making a reservation.
Similar domains
Please note that there are some other domains that are similar to ours but are not under our management. These include, for example:
- flatio.pro
- flatio.city
- flatio.properties
- homeexchange.rentals
- flatio.rentals
- flatio.homes
- flatio.rent
Actions taken by Flatio
Although this situation is beyond Flatio's control, we take the security and safety of our users very seriously. That’s why we always take immediate action as soon as we are informed of such cases by:
- Informing our users about the scam on our website and social media platforms
- Reporting the fake profiles and ads
- Reporting the abuse to the DNS anonymization service
- Reporting the abuse to Cloudflare service
- Sending a criminal notice to the Czech police when necessary (as Flatio is based in the Czech Republic)
We would also like to share other important information in this blog post with affected and potential targets so that they hopefully do not fall victim to similar scams that exploit Flatio's credibility to deceive users.
Find the perfect accommodation in Portugal
Recognizing scams
- Always verify the authenticity of the website address.
- Scammers often hide their credentials when registering fake domains. Use reputable domain registration lookup tools to check the legitimacy of the domain registration.
- Official communications from Flatio come from email addresses associated with our company.
- Flatio handles all processes and transactions within its system. If someone insists on communication or payments outside the platform, it's a scam.
- Flatio users can check the bank credentials in their profile on flatio.com. From the above-mentioned fraudulent website, users cannot click to other pages such as the homepage or listing pages.
Taking action
If you come across any suspicious activity or receive communications from someone claiming to represent Flatio outside the platform, you must act immediately.
We recommend that you do the following:
- Report to Flatio: Forward any suspicious emails, messages, and invoices to [email protected] or [email protected].
- Report the ads and profiles: Whenever you come across a suspicious ad or profile, report it to the respective platform using the available reporting options.
- Keep evidence: Keep all emails and records of your communication. Print and store them as evidence.
- Avoid external payments: We never request payments outside of our platform. If you are asked to transfer money externally, do not proceed with the transaction.
- Be cautious of third parties: Flatio does not collaborate with any external entities (third parties) that ask for money from our users and potential users.
- Contact your bank: If you have transferred money to the scammers, discuss the matter with your bank to see if it is possible to get your payments back.
- Contact the authorities: Depending on your case and the laws of the country you are in, you may want to consider reporting the case to the relevant authorities and filing a formal complaint.
The recent cases are a clear reminder to be vigilant when engaging in online transactions.
By staying informed and following the guidelines provided, users can better protect themselves from falling victim to rental scams and similar fraudulent activities. If in doubt, always reach out to Flatio directly to verify the legitimacy of any communication or transaction.
Stay vigilant and take care.
Best,
Flatio
