MUSCAT, MAY 9
As demand for rental properties continues to rise, online scamsters are increasingly targeting unsuspecting residents searching for flats, villas, and bed spaces across Oman through fake property listings and fraudulent payment requests.
Several recent incidents have highlighted a growing trend in which fraudsters pose as property agents, share attractive offers online, and demand advance payments for properties they neither own nor manage.
Mohammed Risham, a private sector employee, narrowly escaped losing RO 100 after being lured by an attractive rental offer for a flat in Mabela.
“I came across the advertisement on a popular buy, sell and rent group and contacted the number provided. The person asked me to inspect the flat first and then transfer the advance amount if I liked it,” he said.
Risham became suspicious after being offered a three-bedroom apartment for RO 190, significantly below the market rate of around RO 300.
“I spoke to a resident in the same building who shared the owner’s contact number. The owner told me I was already the fifth person contacting him regarding the same fake listing,” he added.
According to victims, the fraudsters avoid meeting in person and operate primarily through WhatsApp chats, using photographs of properties and false promises to gain trust.
Social media influencer Rekha Prem said such scams are no longer limited to property rentals.
“Anyone buying or selling through online platforms should remain cautious. Fraudsters often attempt to deceive users through small transactions, assuming victims may not pursue complaints over relatively minor amounts,” she said.
In another incident, Rigel Aboobacker Sidhique, an administrative staff member at a school, lost RO 350 while attempting to sell an infant car seat online.
“A woman claiming to be a foreign buyer contacted me and asked for my bank details to transfer RO 20 as confirmation. She later sent a link asking me to verify the payment. Soon after opening it, RO 350 was withdrawn from my account,” he said.
Following his complaint, the bank reportedly informed him that the fraud had been carried out from outside the country using remote access manipulation.
Online trading platforms continue to advise users never to transfer money in advance, avoid engaging with suspicious international numbers, and report questionable accounts immediately.
The Royal Oman Police has repeatedly warned the public against the rise of online scams, noting that many fraud operations are now run by organised transnational criminal networks.
The ROP has also cautioned residents against sharing screens or opening suspicious links through platforms such as Google Meet or Zoom, stressing that no government institution requests sensitive transactions through such channels.
Authorities urged residents not to transfer money for unauthenticated properties or to unknown individuals until all legal documentation and verification procedures are completed.
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