Agents Beware: Hackers list fake flats on portals with agency branding

A series of fake scams allegedly advertising apartments to rent have appeared on Zoopla and other property websites.

The Edinburgh Live news website claims a spate of ‘fake flat’ scams have appeared on portals, using the accounts of legitimate letting agents which have been hacked and manipulated.

The website cites Aberdeen agency PMC Management and Letting whose Zoopla account had posted several scam listings; it also names Lettingweb, the PropTech channel through which agents’ listings appear on multiple portals. 

All three businesses – Zoopla, PMC and Lettingweb – agree there has been a data breach as a resault of an attack on the agents.

A Zoopla spokesman told Letting Agent Today: "We're aware that fraudsters are targeting agents with phishing emails. They do this in an effort to get agents to share their login details so they can then upload properties. We work hard to prevent this and regularly share with agents advice on how to keep their businesses secure. It's important to remember that approved Zoopla agents will, in the first instance, never ask you to call or email them or to transfer money online. If you have any concerns or an agent encourages you to do this please contact Zoopla where a member of the team will be happy to help."

Lettingweb tells Edinburgh Live: "After analysing our own logs we can confirm that no breach had occurred from our side and that the letting agent username and password was used to access the account and post properties legitimately through the platform.”

"It is evident that online scammers are targeting letting agents with phishing emails posing as portals and other suppliers in an attempt to obtain their login details.”

Here is the full Edinburgh Live story.