Safety & scam prevention

Scammers know that students often rent from abroad, under time pressure. Our team reviews every listing, but you are the last line of defence. These rules will protect you.

Red flags

• The price is far below similar rooms in the same area.
• The landlord is “abroad” and cannot show you the property, but will post the keys once you pay.
• You are asked to pay a deposit or first month’s rent by Western Union, MoneyGram, gift cards, crypto or a personal bank transfer before viewing.
• Pressure to decide immediately “because many students are interested”.
• The landlord wants to move the conversation off the platform straight away.
• Photos look like a hotel or appear elsewhere online (use a reverse image search).

Good habits

• View the room in person or on a live video call where the landlord walks through the property.
• Ask for a written contract and read it before paying anything. Check that the landlord’s name matches the owner or agency.
• Pay deposits through traceable methods and, where it exists, check that your deposit is protected by a government scheme.
• Keep your conversations on AllForStudents so we can help if something goes wrong.
• Meet marketplace buyers and sellers in public places during the day.

Report a problem

Every listing, profile and conversation has a Report button. Reports go straight to our moderation team. If you have already lost money, contact your local police and your bank immediately.