In 30 seconds
- Anyone searching for a home from far away is an easy target.
- Typical signs: a price that is too low, money requested before a viewing, an “owner” abroad who sends the keys by mail.
- If you have already paid, act at once: call your bank and file a police report.
The most common warning signs
The script repeats itself. The listing shows an apartment in a sought-after area, such as Chiaia, at a low price. Whoever answers says they live abroad, cannot show the home, and asks for a deposit or an advance to “hold” the property. Sometimes they send a contract with forged documents. Sometimes they present themselves as an agency, with a polished website.
Checks before you pay
Ask to see the home, in person or through a person you trust. Ask for the owner’s name and compare it with the land registry data: extracts can be requested online on the website of the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate). For a rental, ask for the owner’s ID. A serious agency is registered with the Chamber of Commerce: you can check this on its website. Ask how the contract will be registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate.
Paying in a traceable way
Do not pay in cash, with prepaid vouchers or with money-transfer services to strangers. A bank transfer to an account in a name different from the owner’s is a red flag. Pay only after you have seen the home and read the contract. For a purchase, before paying a deposit, have a notary or a lawyer read the papers.
If you have already paid
Call your bank right away and ask whether the transfer can be blocked or recalled. It is not guaranteed: it depends on timing and on the cooperation of the receiving bank. Useful information is on the website of the Bank of Italy. Then file a report with the State Police (Polizia di Stato) or the Carabinieri. For online crimes you can use the official website of the Polizia di Stato.
What you can do next
Keep the listing, messages, receipts, phone numbers, emails and account details. Do not delete anything. Recovering the money depends on where the money went and cannot be guaranteed. The firm does not handle the law or taxes of other countries: if the fraudster or the bank is abroad, a local lawyer may be needed.
Typical case
A problem that comes up often. Typical case described in general terms: names, places and details do not refer to real people or cases.
A foreign student finds a studio apartment in the Vomero at a very low price. The “owner” says he lives in London and asks for a bank transfer of two months’ rent to ship the keys. After the payment he disappears. The first step is to call the bank and file a report with the messages and the receipt.
What to do in the first 7 days
- If you have paid, call the bank immediately.
- File a report with the State Police (Polizia di Stato) or the Carabinieri.
- Keep the listing, messages and receipts, without changing them.
- Report the listing to the platform where it appeared.
- Do not pay any more money to “recover” the amount.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my money back?
It depends on how soon you act and on where the money went. It cannot be guaranteed.
Can I trust a signed contract?
No, it is not enough. Always check identity and ownership.
Want to understand your case?
The firm sees clients in Naples (P.zza Giovanni Bovio 22 and Via Monte di Dio 14), in Rome and in Bari, by appointment, and remotely throughout Italy. The first meeting is held in Italian.
Original in Italian: Truffe su annunci di casa a Napoli: come evitarle
Author: avv. Renato Giuseppe Fiorentino, Naples Bar. Informational text; it does not replace advice on your case. For updated details, see the official websites mentioned in the text. Text prepared with the help of artificial intelligence tools and reviewed by avv. Renato Giuseppe Fiorentino. It is not legal advice. The firm does not handle the law or taxes of other countries.