Safety

Spot a rental scam: 8 situations from renting a flat

Each situation retells a case from police releases or a warning sign from our guide. Pick what you'd do and see the advice. No points, no timer.

The situations retell our guide Rental scams in Zagreb. It draws on police releases, guidance from the Croatian National Bank and Croatia's National CERT, the law texts and the Uređena zemlja land register portal, and was checked on 20 Oct 2026. We can't confirm that any ad is a scam, or that it's safe.

1 of 8
You like the flat. The advertiser says they'll hold it for you if you pay the deposit now, and you can arrange a viewing afterwards.
What would you do?
See the advice
The police advise against paying any rent money in advance, before you've seen the flat and met the person letting it. Pay the deposit when you sign a written lease, into the landlord's account, and keep the payment confirmation.
More in the guide
2 of 8
The owner writes that they work abroad and can't come to a viewing. They want the first month's rent paid into their account abroad.
What would you do?
See the advice
In September 2025 a woman in Bjelovar paid about €350 into a foreign account to a man who said he was abroad, and the flat wasn't for rent at all. If you can't go yourself, the police advise having someone you trust check at the address whether the flat is really for rent, and asking for a video tour or a meeting in person before any payment.
More in the guide
3 of 8
The ad looks fine and the photos are lovely. The owner offers to post you the keys as soon as you pay the deposit and the first month's rent.
What would you do?
See the advice
Keys by post mean you'd pay without seeing the flat. That's the first warning sign in our guide: money asked for before you've seen the flat and met the person letting it.
More in the guide
4 of 8
The landlord asked for the deposit by international postal payment. After you pay, they say the money hasn't arrived and you need to pay again.
What would you do?
See the advice
That's exactly what happened in March 2026: a fake landlord asked for a deposit by international postal payment, then claimed it hadn't arrived. A payment to another country or into someone else's name is a warning sign. If you've already paid, contact your bank at once and report the fraud to the police on 192.
More in the guide
5 of 8
The advertiser says an accommodation platform will hold the deposit until you move in, and sends you a link where you enter your card details.
What would you do?
See the advice
Croatia's National CERT described a case in which a fake holiday-flat owner sent a link to a fake page for paying the deposit. Pay the deposit into the landlord's account named in the lease, and never give anyone your card details, PIN or one-time code.
More in the guide
6 of 8
A two-room flat in the centre, furnished and renovated, for about half the price of similar flats in the area.
What would you do?
See the advice
A rent far below similar flats is one of the warning signs. On its own it doesn't prove a scam, but it's a reason to compare rents by neighbourhood, check the photos with a reverse image search, and check the owner in the land register.
More in the guide
7 of 8
“I have five other people interested. If you don't pay earnest money today, the flat goes to someone else.”
What would you do?
See the advice
Fraudsters create a sense of urgency on purpose, the Croatian National Bank warns, and the police advise against acting in a hurry under pressure. Mind the earnest money (kapara) too: under the Obligations Act, unless agreed otherwise, a contract counts as concluded once kapara is paid (Art. 303).
More in the guide
8 of 8
You've seen the flat. The person showing it has the keys and offers to sign the lease and take the deposit right away.
What would you do?
See the advice
In November 2025 a man booked a flat in Trešnjevka through an accommodation app, showed it as his own, signed leases and took €300 to €900 from each of them. The land register is public: check the owner for free on the Uređena zemlja portal and compare the name with the person's ID card. If someone else signs the lease, ask for the owner's power of attorney.
More in the guide

Two keys on a lease on a small round table.

Eight signs to watch for

One sign doesn't prove a scam, but it's a reason to stop and check.

Money before a viewing
An owner “abroad”
Paying without meeting: “keys by post”
Payment abroad, or “please pay again”
A payment link and card details
A rent far below similar flats
Pressure: “pay today”
Nobody checked who owns the flat

Check an ad you've seen

What they can ask you for

What to bring to sign the lease, and what you don't need to give anyone before a viewing. Each line shows its source and when we checked it.

Bring to the signing

Ready: 0 of 7

Your ID card or passport, to show. A notary who doesn't know you checks your identity with your ID card or passport.Source: Zakon o javnom bilježništvu, čl. 60. i 77. (checked 23 Oct 2026)
Your OIB (personal ID number). The law doesn't ask for it in the lease, but the police ask for it when you register your address, and it's needed to move the electricity contract.Source: Zakon o prebivalištu (NN 144/12), čl. 9. (checked 23 Oct 2026); HEP ODS, obrazac 8 (checked 23 Oct 2026)
The agreed amounts, in writing: the rent and how it's paid, the deposit and the bills.Source: Zakon o najmu stanova, čl. 5. (checked 23 Oct 2026)
A way to pay that leaves a record: a transfer to the landlord's account named in the lease, or a signed receipt for cash.Source: Zakon o obveznim odnosima, čl. 180. (checked 23 Oct 2026) · Payment receipt
An agreement on registering your address: you need the landlord's consent (a certified statement, or given in person at the police) and their OIB.Source: Zakon o prebivalištu (NN 144/12), čl. 9. i 10. (checked 23 Oct 2026)
Your phone, for photos of the flat's condition next to the handover record.Source: Zakon o najmu stanova, čl. 12. st. 2. (checked 23 Oct 2026) · Handover record
If you're from abroad: your passport. For a notary it's enough as your ID.Source: Zakon o javnom bilježništvu, čl. 60. (checked 23 Oct 2026)

What nobody needs before a viewing

A copy or photo of your ID card or passport. AZOP, the data protection agency, recommends not handing over a copy whenever you can, and only showing the document.Source: AZOP, česta pitanja građana (checked 23 Oct 2026); PU brodsko-posavska, 8. 5. 2026. (checked 23 Oct 2026)
Bank statements, payslips or an employment contract. None of the rules we checked asks for them for a viewing.Source: Zakon o najmu stanova (checked 23 Oct 2026); AZOP, česta pitanja građana (checked 23 Oct 2026)
A deposit, a holding fee or rent. The police advise paying nothing before you've seen the flat and met the person renting it out.Source: PU bjelovarsko-bilogorska, 30. 9. 2025. (checked 23 Oct 2026)
The agency fee. An agency may not ask for it in advance.Source: Zakon o posredovanju u prometu nekretnina (NN 69/26), čl. 29. st. 2. (checked 23 Oct 2026)
Card details, a PIN or codes.Source: PU brodsko-posavska, 8. 5. 2026. (checked 23 Oct 2026)

Not legal advice. If someone asks for more, ask why and on what basis; questions about personal data can go to AZOP, the data protection agency. Ticks stay in this browser only.