Safe Renting in 2026: How Stekkies Protects You from Rental Fraud and Scams

Rental Fraud in 2026: What's Changed?

The Dutch rental market remains one of the most competitive in Europe and scammers know it. With housing shortages continuing in cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague, fraudsters are getting bolder and more sophisticated.

Every year, thousands of renters in the Netherlands fall victim to rental fraud, collectively losing an estimated €5 million, with individuals losing an average of €1,200 per incident. That's a painful lesson no one wants to learn.

What's different heading into 2026? Scammers have upgraded their tactics. Fake listings now come with professionally written descriptions, AI-generated photos, and even convincing (but fake) rental contracts. Scams that used to be easy to spot are now harder to detect without the right tools.

The good news: Stekkies has upgraded too.

12 Red Flags to Spot a Rental Scam

Use this checklist every time you come across a listing, whether on Facebook Marketplace, Marktplaats, or any other platform outside a verified source.

1. The rent is suspiciously low for the location: cheap city-centre apartments simply don't exist without a catch
2. You're asked to pay a deposit before viewing the property, even with excuses like "I'm abroad" or "just to secure it"
3. The landlord is conveniently unavailable, abroad for work, caring for a relative, or "too busy" for an in-person viewing
4. Payment is requested via cash, crypto, or Western Union, all untraceable and non-refundable
5. The same listing appears across multiple platforms under different names or prices
6. Photos look too perfect or match other listings (always run a reverse image search)
7. AI-generated or stock-style photos that look polished but oddly generic
8. No KvK (Chamber of Commerce) registration for the agency or landlord
9. Pressure to decide fast, "There are 10 others interested!" is a classic scammer tactic
10. You can't register (inschrijven) at the address, a legal red flag for illegal sublets
11. They ask for your passport or ID early, before any viewing or signed contract
12. The contract contains contradictions or errors, scammers often recycle templates carelessly

New in 2026: AI-Generated Scam Listings

One of the biggest changes in the rental fraud landscape is the rise of AI-generated listings. Scammers now use tools to create:

• Realistic-looking property descriptions in flawless Dutch or English
• Fake but convincing interior photos that don't match any real property
• Professional-looking rental contracts that are entirely fraudulent

This means the old advice: "if it's badly written, it's probably a scam" no longer holds on its own. You need more than a careful eye. You need a platform like Stekkies that verifies listings at the source, before they ever reach you.

How Stekkies Keeps You Safe

Stekkies isn't an open marketplace where anyone can post a listing. We work differently and that difference is your protection.

✅ 1,000+ verified sources only We pull listings exclusively from trusted platforms, registered letting agents, and verified housing corporations. If a source isn't on our list, it doesn't reach you.

✅ Smart fraud filters Our technology actively scans for suspicious patterns, pricing anomalies, duplicate listings, and more; before any match is sent to you.

✅ Real-time alerts for verified listings You get notified the moment a verified listing matches your preferences, within seconds of publication. Speed matters in this market, and we make sure you're first in line, safely.

✅ Free Property Checker Found something elsewhere that looks promising? Don't risk it without checking. Enter the address in our free Property Checker and we'll verify it for you.

✅ Personal support from real people Our team including Danique and Jeroen are available to help you review anything that feels off. You're never alone in your search.

7 Tips for Safe Contact with Landlords

Spotting a fake listing is step one. Safe communication is step two. Whether you found a property through Stekkies or anywhere else, follow these rules:

1. Only use verified platforms like Stekkies, Funda, or Pararius as your starting point
2. Always request a live video call, not just WhatsApp photos or voice messages
3. View the property in person before transferring any money whatsoever
4. Check the Kadaster (land registry) for €3.70 to confirm who legally owns the property and verify it matches your landlord
5. Verify agencies via the KvK register, a legitimate agency will always have a registration number
6. Never pay before signing a contract, deposit transfers should only happen after a physical viewing and a signed agreement
7. Use only traceable bank transfers to Dutch IBANs, never Western Union, PayPal transfers to unknown accounts, or crypto

Already Found a Listing? Check It First

If you've found a rental through Facebook, Marktplaats, or another open platform, take 60 seconds to use Stekkies' free Property Checker before you reply to the ad.

👉 Check a rental listing for free →

It's quick, it's free, and it could save you €1,200 or more.

Conclusion: Safe Renting in 2026 Starts Here

Rental fraud isn't going away, if anything, it's getting more sophisticated. But so is the protection available to you.

In 2026, safe renting means:

• Knowing the red flags (and there are more than ever)
• Using platforms that verify listings before they reach you
• Taking your time, no matter how much pressure you feel

Stekkies was built to make this process safer and faster. We combine the speed you need in a competitive market with the verification you need to stay protected.

Ready to find your next home; safely?

🎯 Start your search with Stekkies today →