In August 2026 Bulgaria's organised-crime directorate (GDBOP) detained a 22-year-old man who, according to investigators, posted fake listings for holiday rentals on the Black Sea coast. The victims — 27 people at the time of the arrest — sent a deposit of around half the price to a third party's bank account, from which the money was withdrawn immediately. Losses exceed €6,000.
Holiday lets are only one version. The same schemes target long-term rentals in Sofia, Plovdiv or Varna, where the sums are larger because the holding deposit and security deposit are often one or two months' rent each. This guide is for tenants: how to spot a scam before you pay. (If you are an owner wanting to protect your property, see our guide to property fraud.)
1. "The owner is abroad." The listing looks genuine, but the "landlord" cannot show you the home because they are out of the country. They offer to send the keys by courier, or to have an "agent" meet you — once you have paid a deposit to "reserve" it. Police in Pleven described exactly this scheme in a warning in July 2026.
2. A deposit before the viewing. Citing "huge interest", they tell you the home will be held only if you pay now, before you have been inside. This is the surest sign that something is wrong: an honest landlord has no reason to take money for a property you have not seen.
3. Stolen photos and a price that is too low. The photos come from an old or someone else's listing, and the rent is clearly below local levels. The low price is the bait — it makes people rush.
4. A "landlord" who isn't the owner. The person is real, shows you round and even signs a lease — but is not the owner; they may be the current tenant or a short-stay guest. They take a deposit and first month's rent from several people at once. In August a tenant in Sofia described publicly how he paid in cash after signing a lease with a woman who presented herself as the owner, only to find on handover day that something was wrong.
What the lease itself should contain — term, rent, deposit, handover report — is covered in our guide to tenant rights and obligations.
The holiday-listing case shows that when many victims come forward, the people behind a scam can be found.
Using a registered agency is not compulsory, but it removes some of the risk: the broker checks ownership and authority before showing the property, the viewing is real, and the lease is signed with the owner. If you use an agency, ask for a written brokerage agreement and check the firm — a genuine broker has no problem showing you who stands behind them.
This is general information, not legal advice. Case details are from reports published in July–August 2026, verified November 2026.
If you are looking for a home to rent, or want us to look at a listing before you pay, call us or visit our office.
