5 Red Flags: How to Avoid Rental Scams in Seoul

Korea is extremely safe, but rental scams targeting foreigners do happen. The scammer knows you are overseas, can't visit the room, and don't speak Korean.

Here is how to spot a scam before you lose your money.

Red Flag #1: "The Landlord is Overseas"

They say: "I am currently in the US, so I can't show you the room, but just send the money and I'll mail you the key."

• Reality: 99.9% Scam. Never send money if you or a trusted platform haven't verified the room exists.

Red Flag #2: The Price is Too Good

They show you photos of a luxury penthouse in Gangnam for 400,000 KRW.

• Reality: Bait-and-switch. They will take your deposit and then say "Oh, that room is taken, here is a basement room instead."

Red Flag #3: Paying to a Different Name

The contract says the owner is "Mr. Kim," but they ask you to send money to "Ms. Park."

• Safety Rule: Always ensure the bank account name matches the ID of the landlord exactly.

Red Flag #4: "No Contract Needed"

They suggest: "Let's just do it casually without a contract to save taxes."

• Reality: Dangerous. Without a contract, you have no legal protection to get your deposit back.

How to Stay Safe

The easiest way to avoid these headaches? Use a platform that acts as the middleman. Services like LiveAnywhere verify the host's identity and hold your payment securely. You don't have to worry about "Ghost Landlords."