THIS Happened To Us - Don't Let It Happen To YOU! | 3 Scams Moving Abroad
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- Опубликовано: 24 ноя 2022
- Are you planning to move or vacation abroad? Watch our video to learn about the common scams that expats like us have encountered when trying to rent a home in Portugal. From fake listings to advanced fee scams, we share our personal experiences and offer tips on how to protect yourself from these fraudulent schemes. Don't let these scammers ruin your dream of living or travelling abroad - watch our video now and be prepared! Beware of these 3 SCAMS moving abroad that are happening not only in Portugal, but all over the world. One of these happened to us- don't let it happen to you!
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#ScamAwareness #ExpatTips #SafeTravels
Gotta see a place in person before renting and sending money! Yikes!
Hello Dara! Especially before giving money. We felt terrible for this young lady. Thanks for watching! Cheers! M&D
That same crap happens here in the US. Sad that we have such horrible people out there.
Hello Rick! Yes it’s sad that people take advantage of other people. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
The same rental scams are going on in Vancouver, including people trying to rent out properties they don't own. These scams seem to have grown in popularity over the past few years. Some pretty shady people out there. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Glad I didn't try to rent your place. 😁
Hello Michael! So true about scams going on in many places. We feel terrible for the girl who sent money. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
To rent almost anything in Portugal, if you are a owner, you got to have a guarantor or a bank guarantor on first demand, on a lease contract to avoid been scamed.
Hello Negocio! That’s valuable information! Thanks for watching and sharing. Cheers! M&D
Glad you guys posted this, I was about to show up at your door tomorrow with a bunch of suitcases, a big crate and a big dog. 😉
Hahaha....don't worry cuz if you are nice, I think D and M will let you in. 😊
Hello dotted8! Honestly if you showed up with a crate and a big dog….. how could we say no? 😂 Thanks for watching! Cheers! M&D
When I was helping my sons try to find apartments to rent, I was shocked to see how many scams there are in the US for apartment rentals also! Lots of fake ads of really great places to rent at unreasonably low prices. It’s awful! Huge waste of time too!
Hi! Exactly…. Huge waste of time and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is! Thanks for watching and sharing your insight. Cheers! M&D
Thanks!
Hello Al! We want to thank you so very much for generously supporting our channel. We are so glad you found value in the video. Thank you for watching! Cheers! M&D
Thanks for the reality check Doug & Monique. In this digital age, anonymous scammers can remotely strike anywhere. This video is a good reminder to remain alert and always employ "due diligence" when making financial transactions, especially large ones.(It is sad how some people (thieves) have prioritized their love of money over their love of fellow men and women.) Sorry to hear the hassle you went through and I feel bad for that young lady learning a life lesson the hard way. 😟
Hello Chris! 🌎 Very well said. One must do ones due diligence, while not losing faith in the goodness of people. We felt terrible for the young lady. We hope that in the coming days that with the police involved, that this particular scam will end. As Doug said however, her money os already gone. Just wanted to put out a reminder. Thanks as always for watching and supporting the channel. Cheers! M&D
Hello. Nice to see you guys again. It is really annoying that even Madeira is not exception to this sort of scams.
Then people are getting worried why there aren’t many places to rent. It is better rent a place to turists (Alojamento local) rather than to people for a year and then having to take them to court to get rid of them from your own property.
Hello Rui! Nice to hear from you! Yes unfortunately no where is exempt. Yes we feel terrible for landlords who find themselves in this situation. We actually don’t know yet how this story will end. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
I recommend you only rent through a trusted realtor over there.
Absolutely! We agree! M&D
Wow. So sorry to hear your quiet and serene life has been interrupted by this scammer.
Hello DesertDweller! We feel terrible for the young girl who sent money and others who have wasted so much time thinking this place is available. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
Great video! Your video reminded me of how grateful we should be that during Covid none of our tenants stopped paying. The eviction moratorium would have been rough given we rent out 8 houses.
Hello Dara! Yes no kidding! Thanks for watching! Cheers! M&D
So very helpful. Thank you.
Hello Alan, Thanks for watching and for the kind feedback. Cheers! M&D
If you are not shure if the house that you are viewing belongs to the announcer. You have to take the address to a solicitor or a lawyer so that they can confirm who is real owner.
Well said! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Cheers! M&D
This is a great public service you’re providing - we aren’t looking to buy but we do search out rental properties. In the excitement of planning a long stay visit, sometimes the potential of falling victim to these sorts of scams falls off the radar.
We’ve only ever used AirBNB for rentals; I wonder if this happens on that platform? Thanks for sharing - great channel!
Hello Libbyann! We totally know what you mean about how we all forget these things in the excitement of planning! Us too for sure! I think if you’re sending money to a platform and not directly to an owner it’s better. Thank you for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
Extremely informative! Thanks for such great content.
Hello Al! Thank you so much for watching and commenting! We are glad you found value in our content. Cheers! M&D
Great content as always!! Very important to be aware of these kind of scams 🙏
Hello Klara! Thanks for watching and commenting! Happy Holidays 🎄! M&D
Beware also of scam taxis the moment that you arrive. Only go into a graphically labeled taxi. This is
especially true in Lisbon, where they don't seem to be enforcing the law. Another thing; beware of buying
property that you can not access, or live in, or without water, or on nature-preserve property.
Hello Crusty Cobs! All good advice, thank you for sharing! Thank you for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
We (party of four) used Uber in Porto and Lisbon--always opting for the slight up-charge for highly rated drivers. Every single one was great. (Most had high new electric vehicles.) The only taxi ripoff we had on our trip was on our return to Miami. And the cab driver drove like a bat out of hell on top of ripping us off. Yes, he was licensed but never turned on the meter.
Great info from my fellow Canadians!
Well thank you Mr. Bailey! Cheers! M&D
Thank you for sharing your story. We are thinking of moving to Madeira and this well help us to be more cautious.
Hello Friba! Madeira is amazing. ☀️ This cautionary tales is for everywhere. Especially when renting- use a reputable agency and don’t send money without seeing the place. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
Hi Doug & Monique, thank you for your great informative videos. Going through the process of relocating and experiencing issues hands on is the best school for picking up experience. Sharing your experience is a real blessing to newcomers to the Island of Madeira. Keep up your good work. Chão
Hello Joao! Thank you so much for watching and for the kind words! We appreciate it! Happy Holidays 🎄! M&D
Thanks a lot guys 👍
Hello Patrick! Thanks for watching! Cheers! M&D
Yikes! Happy it is all sorted. We all have to be careful
Hello there! Yes exactly- we all have to be careful! Thanks for watching! Cheers! M&D
Great video guys thanks for sharing this info! My wife and I just came back from Madeira and absolutely loved it that much that we’d totally retire there. Great to also hear about some things to look out for. Although as y’all mentioned those scams happen almost everywhere. Again awesome content you guys are putting together. Subscribed. Cheers!
Hello Carlos! Apologies for the slow response. For some reason your comment was “ held for review” . Thank you so much for subscribing to our channel and watching! We are happy to have you here. Cheers! M&D
This bad experiences happens here in UK every day , thats people for you, some people are just here in this world for scaming others . We just have to be careful anywhere in this world.
Hello Cleaning Time! You are so right. You always have to be careful- all over the world! Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
These rental scams are going on in every G20 country. Sadly, even the best prepared person can be in a bad situation when rentals are involved: I know a real estate agent that had packed up the family home with professional movers and while in transit to the new location was contacted by the new landlord and informed that he was going to rent to a family member. They were literally driving around with a truck full of their belongings looking for a place to rent :(
Hello Jon! Isn’t that crazy? Can you imagine? Yes one has to be careful everywhere in the world. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
So typical these scams….they are always “away” and then they want to send you the key etc.
Hello Jacqueline! Isn’t that the truth! They are always saying…. I wish I could be there but… We felt horrible for the young lady who sent money. Thanks for watching! Cheers! M&D
Madeira is a province. Perhaps you want to indicate the province in mainland Portugal where the scams happened. There are a lot of scams going on in the areas where there are more foreigners.
I was caught in a similar scam while I was looking for a winter rental in Algarve. I answered an add, the person confirmed it was available and sent me a link to make the payment. I wanted my sister in law to see the apartment before renting it and if she approved of the place she would pay the first and last month plus security deposit on the spot in exchange for the key. The person stated it was her house but she was living in Spain, and couldn't be there. I told her to set up an appointment with her caretaker. She asked me for ID and sent me a photo of an ID card from Spain with a Spanish name, and asked me for my US passport. I got suspicious but I really wanted the apartment (the rent was half the going rate for winter rentals in Algarve). I sent her a photo of my driver's license. All messages were exchanged in Portuguese or English. But Spaniards don't write or speak Portuguese. When this person who identified herself as "Carmen" began to use Brazilian slang I knew "Carmen" was not the person communicating with me. I insisted in having my sister in law see the place before paying. "Carmen" stopped responding. The add was removed... in January a friend brought me to see the place. There was a family living there year round, relatives of the actual owner.
Hello Ros! Thank you so much for watching and for sharing your story. We are glad that it worked out for you and that you were not scammed. One has to be careful as you were. Happy Holidays 🎄! M&D
I've lost all trust in Portuguese real estate agents after several months.
Tell us your experiences so we all learn.
@@ruinunes8251 It just a matter of being very careful. I've dealt with properties that were not actually available, ones that were relisted higher as soon as I asked about them, Being lied to about the condition and many others issues. My recommendation is to find a local representative that does not make money from a sale to help wade through the swamp and deal with the sale and legal side.
@@netcreature "find a local representative that does not make money from a sale" I guess it is easier to find a needle in a haystack.
@@ruinunes8251 Some of the service agencies offer assistance with buying property along with the usual NIF, bank, visa and tax services. I'm attempting this as a last resort and if it fails my move will be called off while I reevaluate where to live.
Hello Netcreature. If you are interested in property in Madeira, we have an excellent real estate recommendation please email us at trackusdownbusiness@gmail.com We are sorry to hear that your experience has not been a good one so far. Thank you for watching and sharing your insight with all. Cheers! M&D
Well, I live in Brazil, the land of scamming. That's why I don't trust even my shadow. rs! Its sad to hear about that in Madeira as well. I guess we have to be careful all over the world about it. About your place, you could maybe go to Court and even get an indemnity but even though, its really boring.
Hello Aline! Yes one has to be careful all over the world. We will have to see what transpires next…. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
Wow! Great warnings! Appreciate it as we are moving soon. By the way, we have taken your place off our list of potential rentals. Just joking. JP
Hello JP! Thanks so much for watching! Ha ha….. for you …. It’s available JP! Lol! Cheers! M&D
Ola Monique, Doug, yes, I'm hearing about many scams like this throughout the world. Hope you got this resolved. I've rented places in many cities, many countries, and if the rental price seems too good to be true, it is. But many people have optimism bias, so when the scammers listed your place (while not even on the market) for well below market price, they must know this tactic works well and fast with the "hopeful" ones :)...thank you for this info :)
Hello Steve! Well said. If it seems too good to be true - it probably is! Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
Been an legal resident of Portugal since 2016...Orginally from Texas...I have had 5 successful rental contracts since moving here...Here's my advice...Get an attorney...Go over the contract with the attorney and owners of the property...If the owner does not agree with deposits, fixing things in the unit, inspection of the unit for safety issues and etc. walk away...Unlike the U.S. most Portuguese properties would not pass a basic safety and standards inspection like we have stateside before you can even rent or sale the property...Most realtors are not licensed in Portugal...The broker is...Red flag in my book...Portugal has been on an tourism and investment high since before the pandemic...Many folks trying to cash in on Airbnb and illegal sub-lets with very little oversight...The reality of moving abroad and Romanticism without due - diligence...will put a damper on the dream and cost you a lot of money and waisted time...There are far too many folks making videos about various countries but are totally missing the reality of the place they are describing...My advice is read as much as you can about a country you are interested in...Culture, History and etc...Then do an dry run...Most can stay 90 days...Learn the lay of the land...Connect with Authentic and Reliable locals and ask lot's of questions...Look at the pro's and cons and make a choice based on life style and Compatibility...You will save yourself a lot of time and money...Portugal is not I got to have it now country...You will find that out real quick...Boa Sorte! 🇵🇹😉🤘🤟✌️👏🤠
Hello Dickie. Thank you so much for watching and for sharing your insights and thoughts. As we have also stated in other videos- due diligence is key. The idea that you’re in a different country and things are not the same nor will they ever be or should they be. Moving abroad requires research and due diligence. With those things done, we have had an excellent experience here in Portugal 🇵🇹 We appreciate your insight. Cheers! M&D
Hi Monique and Doug, thanks for responding my email!!
Our pleasure Gabriella! So nice to meet like minded people! Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
I am living in madeira, Japanese man.
I already helped some people who unfortunately paid to SCAM.
I hope that won't happen to other people, but even in Lisbon, there is a lot of cases.
Let's get in touch one day in Funchal. I am in Lido area.
Hello penguinhills! That’s great that’s you’ve helped others. We feel terrible for those who get scammed. The lido area is beautiful. Yes please do keep in touch! Cheers! M&D
Who sends money without a contract? When we rented we had our immigration person review the contract, show a power of attorney, and provide proof that it was registered with the Financia office. We rented from the US and had a friend come to see and video-walked us through the apartment... Just WOW!
Hello there! Right? It sounds like you went through the process thoughtfully and diligently. We think that some may feel pressure or a bit of panic to secure a rental and just want to believe that it’s true and available. We felt terrible for the young lady who sent money. Thanks for watching and commenting! Happy Holidays🎄! M&D
@@Track_Us_Down perceived desperation will get you every time. 😫 - Have a happy Christmas. Are there tons of holiday lights on the island as well?
Exactly. Oh my…. So many lights it’s incredible! It makes you feel you’re somewhere full of Christmas spirit ! Have a wonderful Christmas 🎅! M&D
I like your videos… I have the same plan as you… just building my sweat home in Calheta… hope I will move there soon !
Looking forward to see your new video soon 😊
How is your construction doing? Am thinking of buying land too and build but a lot of people say no cuz it's all delayed delayed and delayed.
My project started last Oct to be finished this Sep. in reality my project was suspended by office due to some imperfections in my project. This cost me a month to fix some details. We are just finishing screeding of exterior and interior. So yes it has been delayed. Instead of Sep this year it will be finished around Feb March. But I am not in the hurry. I prefer quality instead of speed :)
I have interviewed 27 contraindication companies for my project to find the best … not the cheapest - the best.
I think I choose good one , so far I am happy. Lets see when all will be done.
Hello Filip! Calheta is a beautiful location. Good for you! Thank you for watching and for the kind words. Cheers! M&D
@@gajduso wow, 27 construction companies. Is there that many construction companies in Madeira. But yes it is your home that you will be living every day so it's best to get the best people to do the job, not the cheapest one. Very wise decision Filip!
Too true
👍
Hello! Was wondering how you found your house in Madeira (Idealista, etc.), and what due diligence did you undertake to ensure it was legitimate able to be legally purchased? Thanks!
Hello Jess! We found Vila Doce on Idealista. We then contacted an agent and also involved a lawyer. We had 2 viewings and no money given until our lawyer said so. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
Hi Doug & Monique, very sad that there are people who scam over and over without consequences. Would you two consider doing another video about how to best go about securing a long term rental without being in Portugal to see an apartment first hand. People have to apply for the D7 visa in their home country, and part of that process is proving that you have a long term rental in most cases. In which they must seek, find, and secure without ever stepping foot in Portugal. Just food for thought! Keep up the great work.
Hello Thomas! Thank you for watching and for the kind words. Most people we meet come here on a scouting trip and rent/ buy in person. However, if you had to do it virtually- we would recommend dealing with a reputable real estate company not an individual, and if possible meet virtually and even walk through virtually. If purchasing, getting a lawyer involved. One has to be careful! Cheers! M&D
@@Track_Us_Down That is exactly what we did, a scouting/vacation trip back in summer 2021. Ultimately, we got a lawyer, and found local real estate expert who helped us along the way. I was just in the Algarve in October checking on the progress. Construction looks to be completed in July 2023, but I would say end of October 2023 "It's Portugal, things take a little longer, and we are ok with this" Cheers! Thomas and Andrea.
Sadly, that scam is popular everywhere. 😬
Hello Miranda! Yes it’s sad isn’t it? Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers! M&D
Yikes!
Yikes is right dugfriendly! Thanks for watching! M&D
Yeahhh, don't count on courts to help, Justice here is just for the rich and very well connected... You may get Justice in the end but is 15 year long
Hello there! Thanks for sharing your insight. We truly feel for our friends in a terrible situation. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers! M&D
After watching so many of your videos, none shook me like this one. For all the benefits of expat life and slow travel, I'm wondering if I'm up for the sleaze factor and scammers laying in wait. Also, tell me please -- I can't remember and the memory is the second thing to go -- how did the two of you do it? Did you visit Madeira on a Recon trip? Was it one of several contenders? You seem so organized I wouldn't bet that you arrived sight unseen... or did you? And BTW, what specific steps do you recommend a global nomad take to deal only with legit realtors? If Idealista has scam listings, it seems no way is safe! Thanks again, but this video was a harsh wake up call. Keep on creating!
Hello Admin Desk! Please know our video is simply a cautionary tale. You are up for it! If one is prepared and takes it step by step, slowly and thoughtfully- it can be done. We had been to Portugal 🇵🇹 previously but did not do a recon trip. We planned to stay 1 year here and then move on, renting as we go. However best laid plans….. we changed our minds and changed our plans! We rented an Airbnb for a couple weeks until we found a long term rental. There are legit places on idealista. Our home was listed there. Again, be cautious and take it one step at a time. We deal only with legit real estate agents. If you would like our recommendation please send us an email at TrackUsDownbusiness@gmail.com Please do not feel like it’s an impossible task. It isn’t. Keep your wits about you and take it slow. If we can help further in anyway, please reach out. Happy Holidays 🎄! M&D
@@Track_Us_Down Thank you! You're very generous with your thoughtful and generous offer to advise and/or connect. Planning on a 90 recon, mid March through May, though torn between Madeira, Sao Miguel and south/central mainland Portugal. We have a handful of people from the office who may look to set up a remote office, but time will tell. Best to you both! We'll keep watching and lovin' what you do!
Happens in Germany too
Hello Jacqueline! I think it happens in most places. One has to be careful! Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers! M&D
Do you think these scams exist on AirBnB too? I think they hold the money in escrow until the first or second day of the actual stay to avoid this... We have a plan to rent an AirBnB and then look at possible long-term rentals on site to avoid being scammed but from what I gather it will be veeery difficult to find a place 😔 Do you have any experience with real estate agents and can you recommend one? So sad this is happening, especially with people bothering you at your place.
Hello Elena! Honestly we have no idea about air Bnb. We have rented from air Bnb and yes you are not sending the money directly to the owner. To us that sounds safe that a company is involved. It is very difficult to find a rental. We do have a real estate agent to recommend. Please send us an email and we will send you contact information. Trackusdownbusiness@gmail.com Cheers! M&D
@@Track_Us_Down Thank you!
i have a question. Im almost ready to go to Portugal and live. When i get my rental agreement can i live in it while my d7 paperwork is being processed or do i have to wait until my paperwork is done. Paying for an apartment that i can't move into for a few months.
Hello William! You can stay in Portugal as long as your tourist visa allows ( usually 90 days) and live in your apartment. You would need to return to your home country to complete the D7 process. I guess it could be done, but you would still need to return to do the D7 in your home country. We do know people who have come and rented and returned to their home country and are paying for an apartment that they are not living in. It’s tricky. Good luck to you! Happy Holidays 🎄! M&D
Is it legally possible to take out the electricity and water of the renter who is not paying in Portugal?
Hello Dan! Thanks for watching and interesting question. We are not sure of the answer. If we find out we will answer in an upcoming Q and A video. Cheers! M&D
ok i changed my mind,, madeira and portugal not fo rme.
Hello Brian! This is simply a cautionary tale. It could happen anywhere. Please don’t discount Portugal 🇵🇹 as a retirement destination. We hope you find what you’re looking for. Happy Holidays 🎄! M&D
This doesn't surprise me. Portugal is a poor country. Americans miss so much because they don't take the time to learn the language. I know that Portuguese is difficult, but it is so essential in order to have the real Portuguese experience.
Hello Teddy! Thank you so much for watching and for sharing your thoughts. You are so right that learning the language to have authentic interactions with others is essential to have the full experience. Yes it’s tough- but we also believe it’s worth it! We appreciate your comments. Happy New Year! 🥂Cheers! M&D
Portugal isn't as safe as you think.
Hello Linda! Portugal 🇵🇹 is rated as the world’s 3rd safest country. So overall we are very happy with the level of safety. Of course one always has to be mindful of scams and petty crimes. Thank you for watching! Cheers! M&D
@@Track_Us_Down
We just returned to the U.S. from a year in Lisbon...I'm telling you, I would almost rather be robbed at gunpoint than someone try to play me for a fool.
We had our fill and are happy to be back home.