# Safe renting: how to avoid scams

Maszbox.pl connects advertisers with people looking for a place to rent, but it does not handle payments or sign agreements. So before you transfer a deposit, check a few things. Scammers most often pose as owners of garages, storage units and warehouses, because such places are easy to rent without a viewing.

[See the full page](https://maszbox.pl/en/bezpieczny-wynajem)

## Warning signs

- The advertiser wants an advance, a deposit or a booking fee before you have seen the place.
- The price is clearly lower than for similar listings in the same area.
- They cannot show the place because they are abroad, and they promise to send the keys or the remote by courier.
- They move the conversation to a messaging app and send a link to a payment, a “courier” or a “secure booking”.
- They rush you, saying many people are interested and you have to decide right away.
- They ask for a photo of your ID card, a BLIK code or your payment card details.

## Before you pay

- View the place in person and check that the key or remote really opens the door or gate.
- Make sure you are dealing with someone who is entitled to rent out the place. Ask for a document, such as a notarial deed, the land and mortgage register number or an agreement with the building manager, and compare the details with their ID.
- Sign a written agreement with the details of both parties, a description of the place, the rent and deposit amounts and the rules for returning the deposit.
- Pay by bank transfer to the account of the person or company named in the agreement, never through a link sent in a message. Pay the deposit when you sign the agreement and receive the keys.
- When you receive the keys, write down the condition of the place in a handover report and take photos. This makes it easier to get the deposit back when the rental ends.

## What we do on our side

We do not accept rental payments and we do not send payment links on behalf of advertisers. We remove website addresses from listing descriptions so that nobody can direct you to fake payment pages. You can report any listing with the “Report” button on its page, and we review reported listings and remove those that break the terms of service.

## If you have been scammed

Contact your bank straight away, because a quick reaction gives a chance to stop the transfer. Report it to the police and keep the evidence: messages, transfer confirmations and the listing address. Report the listing with the “Report” button too, so the scammer cannot mislead other people. You can pass suspicious websites and messages to CERT Polska through the form at incydent.cert.pl.

## Questions and Answers

### Does Maszbox.pl handle rental payments?

No. You agree the terms and payments directly with the advertiser. If someone sends you a payment link supposedly through Maszbox.pl, it is a scam attempt.

### Can I pay a deposit before viewing the place?

Better not. Pay the deposit only after viewing the place and signing the agreement, ideally when you receive the keys. A request for money before a viewing is the most common sign of a scam.

### How do I report a suspicious listing?

On the listing page, click the “Report” button, choose a reason and add a description if needed. The report reaches us and we review it.

### What should I do if the money has already reached a scammer?

Contact your bank immediately, report it to the police and keep all messages and transfer confirmations. Report the listing on Maszbox.pl too, to warn others.