Rental scams in Prague: how to spot them and pay safely

You find a flat in a good district. It has high ceilings, a balcony and a rent that makes you check the listing twice. The owner writes back within minutes, in warm English, from abroad. The keys, you are told, will arrive by courier once the deposit lands. That is the shape of a classic rental scam.

We do not quote statistics on how common these are; there are no figures we can stand behind. We describe how the scams work and what makes them fail.

How the usual scams work

The ghost flat. A listing uses photos copied from another advert or a hotel site. There is no such flat, or it belongs to someone else. The scammer wants a deposit or "reservation fee" before you can visit.

The absent owner. The "owner" is abroad, on a work contract or a mission, and cannot show the flat. Someone else will hand over keys after payment, or a courier will. Nobody does.

The fake agent. A person claims to represent the owner and asks for a viewing fee, a registration fee or a "refundable" payment to hold the flat. A real agent, as we explain in our guide to how Prague rental agencies charge, is paid in a different way and on paper.

The double let. A real flat is shown to several people, and each pays a deposit. Only one gets keys.

The deposit that never returns. Less dramatic: a landlord keeps the deposit at the end for invented damage. The law helps here, which we cover below.

Check before you pay

Walk through the flat, in person. Compare what you see with the listing, and take a photo of the street number.

Look at the ownership extract (list vlastnictví) in the cadastre. It is public, and anyone can search it online for free. Match the name on it with the person who shows you the flat, and with the name on the lease. If the person is an agent or a manager, ask for the owner's written authorisation and call the owner. Our viewing checklist for buyers explains what the extract shows.

Run the photos through a reverse image search. If the same pictures turn up on another site under another address, walk away.

If a company is involved, look up its name and ID number (IČO) in the public business register. A registered business with a real address is easier to trace than a first name and a phone number.

Pay safely

Pay by bank transfer, to a Czech account whose holder matches the landlord's name in the lease, and use the reference given in the contract. Avoid cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency and money-transfer services. They are hard to reverse, and they are what scammers ask for. A bank transfer leaves a trail.

The deposit (jistota) is capped at three months' rent and must be returned with at least statutory interest at the end of the lease, less justified claims (as of 2026; Civil Code § 2254; check the Ministry for Regional Development). Anything that the landlord calls a "fee" on top of that deserves a question. Sign a handover protocol with photos when you move in and when you leave. Our guide to the 12-month lease shows what the lease should say.

Where to look

Reputable portals and agencies reduce the risk, but do not remove it, because scammers use them too. The same checks apply wherever you find a flat. Our guide to where to look and what to expect compares the options, and the piece on tourist traps and scams lists others in the city.

If it has gone wrong

Contact your bank immediately and ask whether the payment can be stopped or recalled. Then report it to the Police of the Czech Republic; for emergencies the number is 158, or 112 for any emergency (check policie.cz for how to report a fraud). Keep every message, screenshot and payment confirmation. See our guide to emergency numbers and help.

Scams aimed at the other side

Landlords are targeted too. Beware a "tenant" who offers more than the asking rent and asks you to refund the difference. A cheque or transfer that later fails leaves the landlord out of pocket. Another case is a tenant who rents a flat, then sublets it to others without consent and disappears with the money. A written lease that bans subletting, and a check of the tenant's ID, protects the landlord.

Subletting and rooms

Rooms and sublets are a common source of trouble. A person who is not the owner can sublet only with the owner's consent, and a "landlord" without it has little to offer you. Ask to see the consent and call the owner. Our guide to renting a room says what the contract should include, and the piece on cheap rooms explains where the risks are highest.

At the end of the lease

Deposit disputes start after you move out. Keep the handover protocol, the photos and the messages. If the landlord keeps the deposit without a clear reason, put your request in writing, refer to the lease and the Civil Code, and ask for the return. For a dispute you cannot settle, take legal advice. The Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) can assist in some consumer cases, and a court is the last resort.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know the landlord owns the flat?

Check the cadastre extract, which is public and free to view online, and match the owner's name to the person and to the lease.

Should I pay a deposit before the viewing?

No. Pay only after you have seen the flat and read the lease.

Is a reservation fee normal?

Sometimes, but put it in writing and see what it is credited against. If in doubt, ask a lawyer.

What do I do if I have already paid?

Call your bank straight away and report it to the police. Keep all messages and receipts.

This is a general explainer, not legal or tax advice.