Save the listing link, address or stated building, price, account name and advertised number. If the contact uses a different number after you reply, save both. A screenshot of the listing and its date can help you compare later messages. Check whether the person is describing a room, an entire unit or a different unit in the same development.

Treat the request to pay as its own decision A contact may say the room is popular and ask for a refundable amount to reserve a viewing. CEA advises against paying before viewing. Ask to arrange the viewing through the verified contact without payment. If the person insists, stop the payment process and use the official checks before continuing. A deadline in a message cannot establish that the property or account is legitimate.

A listing might have convincing photographs, a floor plan and a familiar estate name. Save them as background but check the person, address and authority independently. A real photograph can be copied. A genuine building may contain a different unit from the one in the listing. Verify the actual home you are considering rather than treating recognisable surroundings as evidence of the rental.

If two listings seem to show the same room at different prices, ask the verified agent or owner whether the unit is being offered and on which terms. Do not call only the contact sent by the person whose identity you are checking. Use an official register or another verified source where applicable. Record which answer came from which contact.

CEA recommends searching the number advertised or used by the person against its Public Register. A match on a real agent’s name or registration number is a weaker check if the phone number belongs to someone else. Use the number you actually receive messages or calls from. Review the profile and independently contact the agent through the registered number if you need to confirm the listing.

Handle a copied registration card Suppose the person sends a photo of an agent’s card. The name and photograph look plausible, but the number in the chat does not return the agent’s profile. Do not rely on the card or an explanation that the number has only recently changed. Contact the actual registered number separately to ask whether the agent is handling the unit and whether the message came from them.

CEA describes cases in which scammers supplied fake explanations for an unregistered number. A screenshot purporting to show approval or a pending update does not replace the live register. If the agent cannot independently confirm the listing and chat, leave the payment paused. Report a suspected impersonation through the appropriate platform or authority.

For a direct owner listing, the verification is different. Ask for evidence that the person is the owner or has documented authority, and check the conditions for the property. If the person claims to be an agent or introduces another agent, use the CEA check for that person and contact number. Keep the results separate from the checks on the owner and unit.

Look up the number from a fresh browser window

Open the CEA register independently rather than using a page linked by the person you are checking. Search the number appearing in the listing or chat. If the person contacts you from a second number, repeat the check. When you need to speak to the agent, use the registered number returned by the official search. Ask about the exact unit and the proposed viewing.

Consider a chat that begins with one number and hands over to someone described as a colleague. Check the new person and contact independently if they claim to act as an agent. If the registered agent is unaware of the arrangement, stop the transaction and preserve the chat. A person can copy an agency’s branding and use the real agent’s name without that agent’s involvement.

Save the result of the check with the date and the source. Avoid sending identity or bank documents until you have confirmed who receives them and why. If a website requests more information than is needed for the public lookup, return to the agency’s official website and start again.

CEA strongly advises viewing the property in person with the verified agent before paying. Confirm the date, address, block and actual unit to be viewed. A video can help you decide whether to travel, while an in-person viewing lets you check the specific space and meet the person independently verified for the arrangement.

Confirm which room or flat is offered For a room rental, see the bedroom, bathroom and common areas the agreement would cover. Ask who else lives there and what shared access is included. For a whole-flat rental, check that the unit number and layout agree with the proposed agreement. If the contact offers another unit on arrival, repeat the address, owner and agreement checks.

In a condo, being admitted past the entrance does not establish who can let the unit. At an HDB flat, ask the owner about the ownership and approval checks. A person with access to a key might be authorised to conduct a viewing, while the tenant still needs to verify the owner and payment route. Keep each result in its own column.

If you are overseas, plan how you will complete the checks before committing. Use the registered agent’s independently verified details and avoid paying to hold a place in a viewing queue. If a trusted person will view, make sure they can confirm the actual unit and who was present. Ask for time to obtain the ownership and agreement evidence before agreeing to transfer funds.

Verify the details that change at a viewing

If the person changes the location from a listed unit to another one in the same building, ask for the new address and verify it from the beginning. A listing for a large room and a viewing of a smaller room can also represent two different offers. Record what was actually shown and obtain written terms for that exact space before considering payment.

When viewing with a co-tenant, agree on the questions to ask. One person can check the address and room, and the other can confirm the landlord and intended occupants. Ask about access and the proposed handover. If you cannot match a key fact to the listing or agreement, put it on the outstanding list instead of accepting the explanation under time pressure.

If a contact cancels an in-person appointment and offers a refund-linked viewing fee or video instead, do not pay for the viewing. Confirm whether the registered agent or owner can arrange another appointment. Use a verified option if the contact refuses a check you need to complete.

Ask for documentation that shows the owner of the particular address. HDB’s tenant guidance describes checking proof of ownership and ensuring the flat owner is eligible to let the property. If another person is handling the rental, verify their authority independently and check what the verified owner says. A title or ownership document should match the address and the party named in the agreement.

Separate a direct landlord from an agent A direct landlord does not need to appear in CEA’s agent register simply to let their own property. Verify the landlord’s identity and ownership instead. If an agent is involved, verify the agent’s contact separately. A person can show documents for a genuine owner without being authorised to collect money or offer the unit.

For HDB, distinguish whole-flat and room rental and check the conditions for the intended arrangement. Ask how HDB approval or registration will be obtained and how you will be confirmed as an authorised tenant. If the owner provides a confirmation, check the names and address using the official route as appropriate. Follow HDB’s guidance on including the applicable condition in the agreement.

If the landlord and agent give conflicting information, pause until you have resolved the specific issue. Ask who will sign, who will accept payment and what evidence confirms that the unit can be rented. Give the owner the details of the proposed agreement through the independent contact route so the owner can verify them. Keep the answers with the transaction papers.

Find out what stage the HDB rental is at

Ask whether the owner has approval for the intended rental and when the names will be recorded. HDB’s tenant guidance describes asking for proof of ownership and using the confirmation or authorised tenant check. Make the relevant HDB approval condition clear in the agreement as advised by HDB. Follow up on the official record before relying on the tenancy.

A whole-flat listing and a room listing can involve different requirements. If the description changes during negotiation, check the new arrangement with the owner and HDB. If a person already renting the unit offers to rent it to you, ask HDB about eligibility and authority before proceeding. Do not assume access or payment to a current occupant creates an authorised tenancy.

Make sure the dates and names match your intended stay. If you and another occupant are taking the unit together, ask how each person will be listed. Keep a copy of the verification or confirmation that applies to the arrangement, and ask the owner to correct any discrepancy before you treat it as settled.

Use the full proposed agreement, including the correct address, landlord, tenant, rent, deposit, start date and occupancy. Compare those facts with the verified unit and person. For HDB rental, check the appropriate approval condition and follow the official advice for the agreement. Save the complete signed version and any accompanying inventory.

Record what each amount is for Put the deposit, first rent and other agreed payments on separate lines with their due dates and recipients. A genuine tenancy can have deposits and rent after verification and agreement. A request for money simply to view the property is a different situation. If a new charge appears, ask for its purpose and the term or record authorising it before paying.

CEA advises paying the property owner directly by a verifiable payment mode. Match the payee to the verified owner and agreement. If the person asks you to pay an agent, relative or unrelated account for the owner’s rent or deposit, stop and independently verify the arrangement with the owner. Follow CEA guidance on the proper payment route and do not send money while the issue remains unclear.

For any separately agreed agent commission, check who engaged the agent, the agency agreement and the correct recipient under CEA guidance. Keep that payment separate from rent and deposit. For the tenancy itself, record the transaction reference and receipt. A bank confirmation establishes that a transfer was made, while the agreement and receipt explain what the transfer was for.

Compare the proposed payment with the contract and receipt

Create one row for each payment. Write the amount, purpose, due date and verified recipient, then add the corresponding term in the signed agreement. If a deposit is due after signing, the proof should identify which tenancy it belongs to. If the payee does not match the verified owner, pause the transfer and resolve the difference through an independent channel.

For example, a household may be asked for two amounts described only as “booking” and “balance.” Ask the owner or verified agent to explain what each covers and whether the agreement provides for it. If a fee is requested simply to access a viewing, follow CEA’s guidance and do not pay. If money is due under the tenancy, confirm the exact details and keep the receipt.

Check that the signed version has the address, names, dates and relevant approval condition you reviewed. If the sender supplies only a partial screenshot or asks you to sign a changed page separately, obtain and check the complete document. A co-tenant should be able to connect the final transfer to the same agreed version.

A message can arrive just before you plan to transfer, claiming that the owner has switched accounts or that the funds must go to someone else. Pause and call the owner or verified agent through the independently confirmed route. Compare the latest details with the written agreement. Ask for an explanation and use the correct verified recipient.

Use a fresh channel to check the change Do not reply only to the message that announced the change. If the same account is compromised or impersonated, it can repeat the same instructions. Call the verified number, confirm the actual property and ask about the exact payee. If you are told the person cannot speak and the money must go out immediately, leave the transfer pending until you can verify.

Check the payee name, amount and reason before confirming a bank transfer. Save the final instructions and receipt. If the amount differs from what you agreed, ask for the clause or amended document. If you are considering several rentals, use one record per address so you do not copy payment details from a different deal.

Watch for requests to install an app or share banking credentials, one-time passwords or remote access. Use official channels for your bank and property checks. If you suspect a scam, contact the relevant service independently and avoid opening links supplied by the sender.

A scammer can combine a genuine agent’s details, copied listing images and a professional-looking tenancy form. Read each item for what it establishes. A copied registration card does not validate the number. A form with a real address does not show the owner signed it. A real viewing does not confirm that a later payment instruction is legitimate.

Work through a common sequence Imagine a listing for a Punggol room asks you to move from a platform chat to a messaging app, then says you must transfer a deposit before a viewing. Save the listing and both contact details. Check the actual phone number in CEA’s register if the person claims to be an agent. Confirm the listing with the verified agent independently and decline any payment for a viewing.

Another scenario begins with a real-looking viewing and a signed-looking contract. The recipient shown for the deposit is a person you have not verified. Stop at that point and confirm the actual owner and payment details before sending money. Ask who created the contract and whether the owner can verify its terms directly. Keep a record of anything that does not match.

Pressure can make each check feel like a delay, particularly if you need somewhere to move quickly. Use the same short process for every unit. If the other party will not allow enough time for independent verification, keep looking for an option whose details you can verify. Save the relevant messages if you need to report a suspected scam.

If you suspect a scam after a transfer, contact your bank immediately through an official number or channel. Give the amount, date, payee and reference. Ask what protective actions and next steps apply. File a police report. ScamShield’s helpline at 1799 can help you check a suspected scam. Use the bank and police routes directly when funds or accounts may already be affected.

Keep the evidence in sequence Save the listing, contact numbers, usernames, messages, files, account information and transfer receipt. Put them in chronological order and record what was promised. If you reported the listing to the platform or notified the real agent, keep the references. Do not edit originals before sending evidence. Write down the times at which you contacted the bank and made the police report.

If you disclosed banking or account credentials, follow the bank’s and ScamShield’s guidance on securing accounts. If the person requests another transfer to release or refund the earlier money, stop and tell the bank and police. Use a known official contact to check any later message claiming it can recover the money.

After the immediate reports, make a separate plan for accommodation. You may still need to move on the original date. Use the verification steps again for any replacement listing, even if you are pressed for time. Keep the accommodation search separate from people who contact you about the suspect payment.

Prepare the basic facts for a bank and police report

Write the transfer time and amount, bank or payment method and recipient details. Add the platform and listing link, names and contact numbers used, and what the contact asked you to do. Keep the messages showing when the request changed or why you believed it was connected to the property. Save the original receipt and a readable copy.

If several transfers were made, list each in order. Mark which account received it and which messages relate to it. Tell your bank promptly if you also disclosed credentials or installed anything at the person’s request, and follow official instructions on protecting the account. Make a police report and save the reference so you can provide supplementary records later.

Warn co-tenants who might still have the payment instructions and ask them to stop any pending transfers. Report the listing to the platform through its official tools. Keep factual records and avoid publicly posting personal information. If a new person contacts you about recovering funds, check with the bank or police through a known channel first.

Write your move date, term, budget and acceptable travel routes. Identify whether you need a room or the whole unit. Search the exact address and verify the specific landlord and agent before making commitments. If you plan to share with another person, confirm that all occupants can be named and registered as required.

Keep an alternative while checking a listing A family moving for school or work might have only a short window. Use an independently verified short-term plan if necessary while you complete the tenancy checks. Compare costs and access before promising a mover a date. Keep payments tied to the actual agreement and recipient. A temporary arrangement can reduce pressure to transfer money before viewing.

Ask the verified owner or agent when approval, tenancy signing, key collection and rent payment are expected. Put those events on different lines. If a move-in date changes, ask who needs to confirm it and how the agreement will reflect it. Confirm that the unit is available for the entire agreed period.

At handover, check the condition, keys and inventory and save the receipt and final agreement. For HDB, check that your names appear as authorised tenants as applicable. These steps help prevent later disputes and make it easier to show what you were actually offered.

Write the address, specific room or unit, advertised price and contact. If an agent is involved, check the exact number on CEA’s Public Register and contact the registered person independently as needed. Record the viewing date and who showed the property. Check the landlord’s identity and authority and the correct tenancy terms.

Stop at an unresolved check Check HDB approval and authorised tenant status as applicable. Compare the amount and recipient with the agreement and verified owner. If a detail changes, repeat the relevant check before you pay. Save the signed agreement, official proof and receipts by address. Mark which item is pending rather than treating a promise as verification.

A co-tenant can review the final checklist before funds move. Give them the source of the contact, the result of the viewing and the evidence showing who receives payment. Ask them to flag any detail they cannot match. This is especially useful if more than one person has been communicating with the landlord or agent.

Keep the official reporting channels in the same file. If you suspect a scam before paying, stop the transfer and check through the relevant authority. If money has already moved, contact the bank and police promptly. Your strongest records are the ones that identify the unit, contact, agreed terms and exact payment in order.