PETALING JAYA: The surge in property rental fraud is due to the shift to social media platforms and high housing demand in areas like the Klang Valley, say experts. They say social media platforms are favoured by rental scammers for their broad and targeted reach, inadequate moderation and ease of anonymous posting. Veteran property agent Soma Sundram said rental frauds have evolved in the past years with scammers currently utilising the social media platforms as their main base. It is because of social media that it becomes much easier to gain prospective tenants (for illegal brokers or online scammers),” he said in an interview. Real estate transactions, stressed the former Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents CEO, are not being taken seriously enough.

Source: The Star January 12, 2026 06:15 UTC