Student Room on TikTok? Be Careful Before You Pay

Searching for a room in Groningen can be stressful, especially when the start of the academic year is getting closer. You may be checking housing websites every day, refreshing Facebook groups and replying to every promising advert you can find. Recently, another platform has become part of the housing search: TikTok.

Short videos showing beautiful rooms, central apartments and “available now” student housing may look tempting. But you should be careful. Fake rental advertisements are increasingly appearing on TikTok, and scammers are using the pressure of the housing market to trick you into paying for rooms that do not exist or are not actually available.

TikTok is built for speed. You see a video, swipe, respond and move on. That makes it useful for entertainment, but risky for something as serious as renting a room. A short video can make a property look real without showing who owns it, who is renting it out or whether the person behind the account is trustworthy.

Scammers often copy photos and videos from real housing advertisements and repost them as if they are their own. Sometimes they misuse the names of well-known rental platforms or agencies to make the advert look professional. To a student searching from abroad, the offer may seem reliable at first glance.

The problem usually starts once you contact the account. The scammer may respond very quickly, tell you that many people are interested and ask you to pay a small amount to arrange a viewing or reserve the room. This can sound less suspicious than a full deposit, because the amount may be “only” €100 or €150. But once money has been transferred, the room often disappears.

One of the warning signs mentioned in recent reports is the request to pay before a viewing. A fake agent may tell you that the viewing fee will be refunded later, or that payment is necessary to show that you are serious.

This is not how a normal housing search should work. You should not have to pay simply to view a room. If someone asks for money before you have seen the property, checked the landlord and/or received a clear rental agreement, take a step back.

The same applies to so-called reservation guarantees. A message saying “the room is yours if you pay today” may feel like an opportunity, but it is often a pressure tactic. Scammers know that students are afraid of missing out, especially in a city where housing is limited such as Groningen.

A spacious, fully furnished apartment near the centre of Groningen for a surprisingly low rent should always make you pause. Scammers use attractive prices because they know students are comparing expensive listings and hoping for a lucky break.

Before responding, compare the price with similar rooms in Groningen. Check whether the photos match the address and whether the same images appear elsewhere online. If a TikTok video shows a beautiful apartment but gives very little practical information: that is not enough to simply trust the offer.

A real rental advert should be clear about the address or area, rent, additional costs, rental period, registration possibilities and the person or organisation offering the property.

Scammers do not only want your money. They may also ask for a copy of your passport or identity card to “prepare the contract”. This can be dangerous, because stolen ID copies can be reused in future scams.

Do not send a full, unprotected scan of your passport to someone you only know through TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or WhatsApp. If a verified landlord or housing provider genuinely needs a copy later in the process, use the Dutch government’s KopieID app or otherwise make a protected copy. Hide information that is not necessary, such as your BSN, and add a watermark stating who the copy is for and the date.

Your ID is not proof that you are serious about renting. It is sensitive personal information and should be handled carefully.

Before transferring money, make sure the room is real, the landlord is verifiable and the agreement is clear. View the room in person if possible. If you are not yet in Groningen, ask someone you trust to visit or request a live video viewing. During a live viewing, the person should be able to show the room, the entrance, the street and details that match the advert.

Check the address on Google Maps and search the name of the landlord, agency or platform. Be cautious if the payment must go to a foreign bank account, a private name that does not match the contract or a payment method that makes it difficult to recover your money.

Never pay a deposit before signing a rental agreement. Even after a viewing, make sure the details in the contract match the person you are dealing with and the property you have seen.

TikTok can make a room look real in seconds, but renting a home requires more than a video. Take your time, ask questions and never let pressure decide for you.

Finding housing in Groningen is difficult, but losing money to a scammer can make the situation much worse. Stay critical, protect your personal information and use trusted housing platforms whenever possible.

A real home should come with clarity, a proper agreement and a landlord you can verify. If an offer only comes with urgency, vague promises and a payment request, it is probably not the room you are looking for.

If you see a suspicious housing advert on TikTok, do not just scroll past it. Report the account or post on the platform. This helps prevent other students from falling for the same scam.

If the advert misuses the name of a real rental platform, you can also contact that platform directly. They may not control what happens on TikTok, but they can warn users and take action where possible.

If you have already paid money, report the scam to the police and contact the Fraud Helpdesk. It may feel embarrassing, but reporting is important. It helps authorities understand how scammers operate and may prevent others from losing money.