Spotting Fake PG and Hostel Listings Before You Pay

Accommodation scams spike every admission season, when students are searching from another city and can't easily verify a listing in person. What to check before sending any money: - Never pay before viewing. A landlord or agent who refuses a video call or in-person visit and insists on an advance "booking amount" first is the single most common scam pattern. - Verify the address independently. Search the address on Google Maps, and if possible ask someone local, a senior at the same college, a college WhatsApp group, to confirm the property actually exists and matches the photos. - Be wary of prices far below the local average. If every other PG in the area charges ₹8,000–12,000 and one listing offers the same for ₹3,000, that gap usually isn't a bargain. - Get everything in writing. A legitimate landlord will give you a rent agreement with their full name, ID, and the property's actual address, not just a phone number and a UPI ID. - Pay through traceable methods. Avoid cash-only demands and avoid sending a security deposit to a personal UPI ID you can't cross-verify against the property owner's name. - Cross-check with your college. Many colleges maintain a list of admin-verified PGs and hostels used by current students, use it as a starting point rather than a random listing found through a search engine or social media ad. If a deal feels rushed, whether the landlord says "three other students are interested, pay today or lose it", treat that urgency itself as a warning sign.