That 'verified' apartment listing in Chiang Mai was a total scam
Ngl, I thought I was too savvy to fall for it, but the photos and price were just too good. The agent ghosted me after I wired the $900 deposit, so if a deal feels perfect for 3 weeks straight, trust that gut feeling and book through a real platform.
I got burned on a rental in Lisbon a couple years back, same deal. Dude sent me pics of a place with a balcony view of the river and I sent him 600 euros through some transfer app before my buddy talked some sense into me. Turns out the pics were from a hotel listing that he just copied. The fee part is what gets me too, like they always want that deposit up front before you even see the door.