If it seems to be too good to be true… it usually is!

How the scam usually works

In many cases, the scam starts on Facebook, in Facebook groups or through Marketplace-style property listings. A scammer may pretend to be one of our agents, or claim to be an assistant working on behalf of one of our agents. They often say that the owner is abroad, for example in Spain, and that payment must be made quickly in order to secure the property.

To appear trustworthy, they may send screenshots, fake business cards, copied profile photos, or messages that look professional at first glance. Sometimes they use the REMAX name, REMAX forms that look official, our office name, or the names of actual colleagues working at our office.

Please be aware: a logo, a profile photo, a business card image or a WhatsApp message is not proof that someone is really connected to our office. AI can make everything a scammer needs…

Important: verify before you pay

If someone claims to represent RE/MAX Totaal Makelaars, always verify this independently before sending money, documents or personal information.

Do not rely on:

• a Facebook profile;
• a WhatsApp conversation;
• a photo of a business card;
• a story about the owner being abroad;
• pressure to transfer money quickly to “reserve” the property.

How to check whether the contact is real

If you are in contact with someone claiming to work for REMAX Totaal Makelaars, please do the following first:

• Check whether the agent appears on our official website.
• Contact our office directly using the phone number listed on our official website.
• Ask the office to confirm whether the person, phone number and email address are genuinely connected to our company.
• Do not transfer money until you have independently verified the contact.
• Be extra cautious if money is requested through unusual channels or to a foreign bank account.

What REMAX wants you to know

We take misuse of our name very seriously.

If someone contacts you in the name of REMAX Totaal Makelaars and something feels off, please stop the conversation and contact our office directly first. It is always better to verify too much than too little.

Scammers are becoming more sophisticated. They may use real names, copied photos and convincing stories. They may even use AI to create fake documents or fake business cards. That is exactly why independent verification is so important.

Red flags to watch out for

• The property looks attractive and (a bit too) well-priced, but everything has to happen very quickly.
• You are asked to pay a deposit before a proper viewing or verification.
• The supposed landlord is abroad and unavailable in person.
• The contact takes place mainly through WhatsApp or Facebook.
• You receive poor-quality or suspicious “proof” such as fake documents or badly generated business cards.
• The name, spelling, phone number, email address or company details do not fully match.
• You are told to transfer money to an account that does not clearly match the situation.

Already sent money or documents?

If you think you may have been targeted by a scammer, act quickly.

• Stop all contact immediately.
• Save screenshots of the conversation, profile, phone number, listing and payment details.
• Contact your bank as soon as possible.
• Report the matter to the police.
• Read the guidance from the Dutch Fraud Help Desk here:
  Fraudehelpdesk – Ik heb iets gehuurd.

Unsure whether the contact is genuine?

When in doubt, please contact REMAX Totaal Makelaars directly through our official website and verified office contact details before taking any further steps.

A few minutes of checking can prevent a lot of damage.