An ad shows a nice furnished apartment at an attractive price, often with one price for a single payment and a higher price for two installments.
The advertiser chats only on WhatsApp and avoids phone calls. He passes you to a second person, the “real estate agent,” who calls himself “Abu Khalid.”
You can visit the apartment, even more than once. It is real. You are given the building guard’s number and told to say you were sent by “Abdulrahman, the marketer.” The guard and the building owner are also being deceived: they think you are a normal visitor and know nothing about the scammers or your payment. The scammers do not own or manage the apartment.
You may be shown a FAL license or other documents. They are fake.
You are asked for a copy of your Iqama, then sent an “Ejar invoice.” It is fake.
You are told to pay through SADAD or a bank transfer to an IBAN. The SADAD bill is actually someone else’s debt, such as a Ministry of Justice bill, and you are told to “edit the amount.”
After you pay, they demand more money, such as a “security deposit.” Then they stop answering.
Names and numbers used in this scam:
“Abu Khalid,” WhatsApp name “Abu Khalid. New Flat”: 0595122964
“Abu Talal,” WhatsApp name “Abu Talal. New Apartment Mudir”: 0511391305
Also reported: 0591293635
Protect yourself:
Visiting the apartment proves nothing. Before paying, confirm with the building owner or management office directly that the person you are dealing with is authorized to rent it.
Never pay by SADAD bill or IBAN transfer because someone sends you an “invoice” on WhatsApp.
A real Ejar contract is registered on the Ejar platform, and you approve it there yourself. Rent must be paid through Ejar, not to a personal bank account.
A license they send you proves nothing. Look up the FAL license and ad license yourself on the REGA website (rega.gov.sa) and confirm the name and phone number match the person you are dealing with.
Ask to meet the agent at a real office. Scammers always have an excuse not to.
If the payee name does not match the agency or owner, stop.
Job seekers and marketers: do not post ads for these people.
These scammers recruit job seekers and freelance “marketers” to post apartment ads for them. If someone offers to pay you to post rental ads, or asks you to list apartments under your name or phone number, refuse. They show fake FAL licenses and contracts. Do not trust any document they send; look up the license yourself on rega.gov.sa and confirm with the property owner directly. Any ad you post for them can be used to defraud people. Your account, email and phone will be permanently blocked from Expatriates.com, and your name can end up in a police complaint.
If you have been a victim, report it to the police and email us at [email protected] with the link to the ad.
