Avoid Property Scams: Work only with registered pros you trust

• If the deal looks unbeatable and rushed, it’s a setup.
• Never pay into private accounts; insist on a regulated trust account.
• Verify the agent’s PPRA registration and FFC before you sign or pay.

Introduction

Fraud is rising across SA property. Criminals spoof listings, hijack emails, and redirect deposits. Protection is simple: slow down, verify, and only work with a properly registered professional.

Scam signs (red flags)

• “Too good to be true” pricing plus pressure to pay now.
• No in-person viewing; excuses about tenants, keys, or “owner overseas.”
• Requests for deposits before access or paperwork.
• Free/unofficial email addresses, vague phone numbers, no physical office.
• Banking details sent by email without independent confirmation.
• Fake documents: doctored POPs, IDs, or conveyancer letters.
• RDP/“housing approval” SMSs asking for a “registration fee.”

Checklist to verify a professional

• Ask for full name and Fidelity Fund Certificate (FFC) number.
• Confirm on the PPRA register (theppra.org.za) or call 087 285 3222.
• Check email domain matches the agency (e.g., name@agency.co.za).
• Find the agent on the agency’s official website; call head office to verify.
• Demand written mandates, offers and disclosures—no paperwork, no payment.
• Pay only into the firm’s regulated trust account (never personal).
• Confirm conveyancer banking details via a phone number you source yourself.

Way forward

‍Make “verify first” your default. Use registered agents with valid FFCs, insist on contracts, double-check banking details by phone, and pause any transaction that feels rushed or opaque. If in doubt, stop and get independent confirmation, losing a deal hurts less than losing your money.

‍