Last Updated: January 2026
Rental scams in Bangalore have become sophisticated. In September 2025, Catena Homes was exposed for defrauding over 400 tenants of ₹50+ crore through fake lease agreements. Scammers no longer use obvious tricks—they use professional communication, fake e-stamps, and even video calls to appear legitimate.
This guide covers the exact scams operating in Bangalore right now, how to verify any landlord or property, and what to do if you’ve been scammed.
Quick Answer: Never pay any money before physically visiting the property. Verify ownership on Kaveri Online before signing. Insist on a registered rental agreement. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
The 7 Most Common Rental Scams in Bangalore (2025-26)
1. The “Visiting Pass” Scam
How it works: You find a great listing on 99acres, NoBroker, or Facebook. You contact the “owner” who says you need to pay ₹2,000–3,000 as a “refundable visiting pass fee” before seeing the flat. Once paid, they disappear.
Red flags:
- Any payment requested before property visit
- “Refundable” fees that require UPI/bank transfer
- Urgency: “Many people are interested, pay now to book a slot”
How to avoid: Never pay anything before physically seeing the property. Legitimate landlords don’t charge visiting fees.
2. The Fake Landlord / Imposter Scam
How it works: Scammer rents a flat, then poses as the owner and collects deposits from multiple tenants for the same property. You pay ₹2-5 lakh as deposit, get keys, and move in—only to find 2-3 other “tenants” who also paid deposits for the same flat. The real owner shows up, and everyone loses their money.
Red flags:
- Landlord doesn’t have original property documents
- Hesitant to show property tax receipts with their name
- Pressure to pay full deposit immediately
- No registered rental agreement offered
How to avoid: Always verify ownership (see verification section below). Meet the landlord at the property with their ID proof. Check if the name on electricity bill matches the landlord’s ID.
3. The Lump-Sum Lease Scam (Catena Homes Model)
How it works: A company or individual offers you a flat on a “lease” basis—pay ₹10-25 lakh upfront for 2-3 years, no monthly rent. They show you legitimate-looking properties, sign agreements, and disappear. This is exactly what Catena Homes did, defrauding 400+ tenants of ₹50+ crore in Bangalore.
Red flags:
- “Lease” model requiring huge upfront payment
- Returns sound too good (free rent for 2-3 years)
- Company is not well-established or verifiable
- Pressure to sign quickly before “offer expires”
How to avoid: Never pay lump-sum amounts to intermediaries. If leasing, deal directly with verified property owners. Check company registration on MCA portal.
4. The Fake E-Stamp / Digital Agreement Scam
How it works: After you finalize a flat, the “landlord” says they’ll register the agreement digitally and asks you to pay stamp duty + registration charges (₹5,000–15,000) upfront. They send a PDF with an official-looking e-stamp number—but it’s fake or belongs to a different transaction.
Red flags:
- Registration charges requested before agreement is actually registered
- No visit to Sub-Registrar office
- PDF agreement without physical verification option
- E-stamp number that can’t be verified online
How to avoid: Pay stamp duty only at the Sub-Registrar office or through official government portals. Verify e-stamp numbers on SHCIL website.
5. The Security Deposit Trap (Most Common in Bangalore)
How it works: You rent a flat, pay 6-10 months deposit (₹1.5-5 lakh typical in Bangalore). When you leave, the landlord returns only a fraction, claiming “damage,” “painting charges,” or “cleaning fees”—often without any evidence.
Scale: Investment advisor AK Mandhan, who lived in 10 Bangalore apartments, says this happened every single time. His viral post got over 1 million views, with hundreds of tenants sharing similar stories.
Red flags:
- Deposit higher than 2-3 months (Model Tenancy Act recommends 2 months max)
- No proper inventory checklist at move-in
- Verbal agreements about deposit return conditions
- Landlord reluctant to put deposit return terms in writing
How to protect yourself:
- Take timestamped photos/videos of the entire flat at move-in
- Get a signed inventory checklist noting existing damage
- Include specific deposit return clause in rental agreement (e.g., “Full deposit to be returned within 30 days of vacating, minus documented repair costs with receipts”)
- Under Karnataka Rent Control Act, landlords must return deposit within 30 days with itemized receipts for any deductions
6. The “Too Good to Be True” Listing Scam
How it works: Beautiful 2BHK in Koramangala for ₹15,000/month? Furnished flat in Whitefield for ₹12,000? These listings with professional photos and unbelievably low prices are bait. You contact them, they create urgency, collect “booking amount,” and vanish.
Red flags:
- Price 30-50% below market rate for the locality
- Stock photos or photos that appear on multiple listings
- Landlord based “out of station” or “abroad”
- Urgency to pay before others “grab” the deal
How to avoid: Research market rates on 99acres or NoBroker. If a Koramangala 2BHK is listed at ₹15,000 when market rate is ₹35,000, it’s a scam.
7. The Broker Double-Charge Scam
How it works: Broker shows you a property, you pay their fee (typically 1 month rent). Later, you discover the “broker” was actually the tenant subletting illegally, or the same property is shown to you again by another broker who also charges a fee.
Red flags:
- Broker can’t provide their RERA registration
- Payment requested in personal account, not company account
- No proper receipt for brokerage paid
- Broker reluctant to connect you directly with landlord
How to avoid: Use verified platforms. If using a broker, verify their credentials. Pay brokerage only after rental agreement is signed.
How to Verify a Landlord in Bangalore (Step-by-Step)
Before paying any deposit, complete this verification:
Step 1: Verify Property Ownership
Option A: Online (Kaveri Portal)
- Go to Kaveri Online Services
- Select “Encumbrance Certificate” search
- Enter property details (survey number, sub-registrar office)
- Check if the person claiming to be the owner is listed
Option B: Bhoomi Portal (for land records)
- Go to Bhoomi Karnataka
- Search by survey number or owner name
- Verify ownership records
Step 2: Verify Landlord Identity
Ask to see:
- Aadhaar card or PAN card (original, not photocopy)
- Latest property tax receipt with their name
- Latest electricity bill with their name
- Sale deed or gift deed (for ownership proof)
Cross-check: Does the name on these documents match? Does the property address match?
Step 3: Verify the Property
- Visit the property in person (never pay without visiting)
- Talk to neighbors: “Do you know who owns this flat?”
- Check with society/apartment security: “Who is the owner?”
- Verify BESCOM connection is in landlord’s name (ask for recent bill)
Step 4: Verify Rental Agreement
Ensure your rental agreement includes:
- Full address of property
- Landlord’s full name, address, Aadhaar/PAN
- Your full name, address, Aadhaar/PAN
- Monthly rent amount
- Security deposit amount and return conditions
- Lock-in period and notice period
- Who pays maintenance, electricity, water
- Signatures of both parties + two witnesses
Best practice: Get the agreement registered at the Sub-Registrar office. This costs ~₹500-1,000 but provides legal protection.
Verification Checklist Before Paying Deposit
Use this checklist before handing over any money:
- Visited property in person (not just video call)
- Verified ownership on Kaveri/Bhoomi portal
- Seen original ID proof of landlord (Aadhaar/PAN)
- Seen original property tax receipt with landlord’s name
- Seen recent electricity bill with landlord’s name
- Spoken to neighbors/security to confirm ownership
- Checked market rent for locality (not suspiciously cheap)
- Got written rental agreement with all terms
- Took photos/videos of flat condition with timestamps
- Created inventory checklist signed by both parties
- Deposit return clause clearly stated in agreement
- Payment made via bank transfer (traceable), not cash
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
If you’ve already lost money to a rental scam:
Immediate Steps
- File a Police Complaint (FIR)
- Go to your nearest police station
- File FIR under IPC Section 420 (cheating) and Section 406 (criminal breach of trust)
- Bring all evidence: payment receipts, messages, agreement copies
- File Cyber Crime Complaint (if online scam)
- Go to National Cyber Crime Portal
- File complaint under “Financial Fraud”
- Upload all evidence
- Inform Your Bank
- If payment was recent (within 24-48 hours), bank may be able to freeze/reverse
- File dispute with your bank
- Collect All Evidence
- Screenshots of all conversations (WhatsApp, email, SMS)
- Payment receipts / UPI transaction IDs
- Property listing screenshots
- Any documents provided by scammer
Additional Steps
- File Consumer Complaint
- Go to E-Daakhil Portal
- File complaint against the individual/company
- Report on Platform
- If listing was on 99acres, NoBroker, Housing.com—report the listing
- Platforms may help identify and block scammer
- Share Your Experience
- Post on r/bangalore to warn others
- Share on social media with property details to prevent others from being scammed
Platform-Specific Safety Tips
99acres / Housing.com / Magicbricks
- Look for “Verified” badges on listings
- Use in-platform messaging (creates evidence trail)
- Report suspicious listings
- Never pay outside the platform
NoBroker
- Use their “Pay Rent” feature for traceable payments
- Verify owner through their document verification service
- Use their rental agreement service
Facebook Marketplace / WhatsApp Groups
- Highest risk platforms—many fake listings
- Never pay before meeting in person
- Insist on meeting at the actual property
- Verify everything independently
OLX / Quikr
- Similar high risk—minimal verification
- Treat all listings with extreme caution
- Complete full verification before any payment
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify if a landlord is genuine in Bangalore?
Verify ownership through Kaveri Online or Bhoomi Karnataka. Ask for original property tax receipt and electricity bill in the landlord’s name. Meet at the property with their ID proof. Talk to neighbors to confirm ownership.
What is the legal security deposit limit in Bangalore?
The Model Tenancy Act 2021 recommends a maximum of 2 months’ rent as security deposit. However, Bangalore landlords commonly demand 6-10 months. While not strictly illegal, higher deposits increase your risk. Negotiate for lower deposit with registered agreement.
Can I get my deposit back if I was scammed?
If scammer is identified, you can file FIR under IPC Section 420 and pursue civil recovery. If payment was made via UPI/bank transfer, file complaint with your bank immediately—reversal is possible within 24-48 hours in some cases. For older cases, legal action is the primary recourse.
How do I check if a rental agreement is genuine?
Verify the e-stamp number on SHCIL website. For registered agreements, verify at the Sub-Registrar office where it was registered. Check that all details (names, addresses, amounts) match what you agreed.
What should I do if landlord refuses to return deposit?
Under Karnataka Rent Control Act, landlords must return deposit within 30 days with itemized receipts for deductions. Send legal notice via registered post. If ignored, file complaint with Rent Control Court or consumer forum. Many landlords comply after receiving legal notice.
Is it safe to rent without a rental agreement?
No. Without a rental agreement, you have no legal protection. Landlord can evict you anytime, deny receiving deposit, or change terms arbitrarily. Always insist on written agreement—registered agreement is even better.
This guide is published by Agarwal Estates, Bangalore’s trusted real estate advisory since 1999. If you need help finding verified rental properties or have questions about a potential scam, contact us.
Last updated: January 2026. Rental scam tactics evolve constantly—we update this guide as new scams emerge.
