House-hunting in Itanagar just got a whole lot riskier — and the police want you to know before it’s too late.
Itanagar Police have issued a sharp public alert warning residents about a troubling surge in rental house and paying guest (PG) scams. The fraudsters are not operating from dark back alleys. They are right there on your phone screen, hiding behind polished social media posts and convincing online listings, waiting for someone desperate enough to book a room without asking the right questions.
Inspector Techi Nega, Officer-in-Charge of Itanagar Police Station, came forward with the warning, urging residents to stay vigilant while browsing rental advertisements online. The message was clear — what looks like a good deal might actually be someone emptying your wallet and vanishing.
The modus operandi is painfully simple, and that is exactly what makes it work. Fraudsters put up attractive listings for rooms, flats, or PG accommodations, often at prices that seem just a little too reasonable. Once a prospective tenant shows interest, they are asked to transfer money upfront — sometimes framed as a “booking amount,” sometimes as a security deposit, or even something as official-sounding as a “verification fee.” The moment the money is sent, the so-called landlord goes silent. Calls go unanswered. Numbers get blocked. The room never existed.
It is a scenario that has played out across cities in India for years now, and Itanagar is increasingly in the crosshairs. With more students, government employees, and migrant workers looking for accommodation in the capital, the pool of potential victims has only grown.
Inspector Nega laid out a set of precautions that every house-seeker should treat as non-negotiable. First — see the place with your own eyes before you commit to anything. A video call tour is not enough; people have been fooled by borrowed apartments and rented-for-a-day rooms shown on video calls. Visit the property in person. Second — talk to the actual owner or a verified agent, face to face if possible. And do not stop there. Insist on a proper written rental agreement before any money changes hands, and always collect a formal, signed receipt for every payment made.
The police were particularly firm on one point: never transfer a security deposit or advance rent based purely on a phone call, a WhatsApp message, or an online chat. That single habit — paying first and verifying later — is what keeps this scam alive.
If a listing feels rushed, if the owner is pushing you to pay immediately, or if the deal looks suspiciously attractive for what it is offering, those are red flags. Stop. Verify. Then decide.
It says something about the times we are living in that finding a place to stay has itself become a minefield. Itanagar Police deserve credit for getting ahead of this publicly — but awareness alone will not protect people. The next step is on us. Slow down, ask hard questions, see things in person, and never let urgency or a bargain price cloud your judgment. Scammers bank on exactly that rush. Don’t give it to them.
