How to avoid property scams & fake agents
Quick answer: Before paying anything: check the agent's REN/REA/E number with LPPEH, check the project and developer on KPKT's TEDUH, and pay company accounts only (the developer's housing development account, a registered agency or a lawyer) — never a personal account. RMMJ applications go only through eRumah Johor (PKPJ), free and with no agents. If money has already gone, call NSRC 997 (24 hours) immediately, then make a police report.
⏱️ 30-second summary
- Check agents: LPPEH (REN / REA / E)
- Check projects: KPKT TEDUH
- RMMJ: eRumah Johor — free, no agents
- If scammed: NSRC 997 (24 hours) + police report
- Illegal agents: Fine up to RM300,000 / 3 years
| Red flag | What to do |
|---|---|
| “Cheap Bumi lot, pay the deposit today before it's gone” | Check the project's Bumi quota on TEDUH or our Johor Bumi Lots page. Real developers never push payment into a personal account. |
| The agent gives only a first name and phone number, no REN or agency | Ask for the REN/E number and firm name and check them with LPPEH. Unregistered agents break Act 242. |
| You're asked to pay a personal account or someone else's name | Refuse. Pay only the company account named in the S&P or offer letter, with an official receipt. |
| “I can get you RMMJ / PPR, pay a processing fee first” | PKPJ has never appointed agents or middlemen. Apply yourself on eRumah Johor — it's free. |
| “Loan guaranteed even with bad CCRIS, pay the fee first” | No one can guarantee a bank approval. See why loans get rejected. |
| Price far below market, “insider auction price” | Compare nearby prices and check with the bank or the official auctioneer. |
| You can't view the home — “the owner is overseas” | View it yourself, ask for the title and the owner's IC, and do an official land search. |
| A call or WhatsApp claiming to be NSRC, police or the bank | NSRC never contacts the public. Hang up and dial 997 yourself. |
6 checks before you pay
- 1. Check the agent with LPPEH — Ask for the REN, REA or E (firm) number and agency name. Check it yourself on the official LPPEH site — the name and phone number must match the person you are dealing with.
- 2. Check the project and developer on TEDUH — For new projects, look the project up on KPKT's TEDUH portal: the developer must hold a licence and advertising permit, and the project status is shown.
- 3. Check the title (subsale) — Ask for a copy of the title and the owner's IC, then do an official search at the land office to confirm the owner and any restrictions (e.g. Malay reserve land or Bumi quota).
- 4. View the home yourself — Never pay for a home you can't visit. Make sure the address exists and the home really is empty or for sale.
- 5. Pay company accounts only — New project: pay as per the S&P into the developer's Housing Development Account (HDA). Subsale: into a registered agency's company account or the lawyer's account, with an official receipt. Never a personal account.
- 6. Don't rush — A genuine agent gives you time to read the documents. Pressure to 'pay today before it's gone' is a red flag.
New projects: no payment before the S&P
For new projects the law bars anyone — agents included — from collecting money before the S&P is signed. After the S&P, purchase money goes into the developer's Housing Development Account (HDA) for that project, which is protected by law. See house booking fees.
Johor affordable homes (RMMJ)
The state says there is only one channel for RMMJ applications, eRumah Johor, run by PKPJ, and no fee is charged. Johor's housing exco once reported 20 RMMJ scam complaints with RM155,000 in losses in a single year. See RMMJ & PR1MA.
If you've been scammed
- 1. Call 997 (NSRC) immediately — 24 hours. The sooner you report, the better the chance the money can be blocked.
- 2. Call your bank to stop the transaction.
- 3. Make a police report and keep all evidence: chat screenshots, the ad, receipts and account numbers.
- 4. Report unregistered agents to LPPEH. Acting as an estate agent without registration under Act 242 carries a fine of up to RM300,000, up to 3 years' jail, or both.
Check us too: this site's agent is registered as REN 69531 — look it up with LPPEH before dealing with us.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I know a property agent is genuine?
Ask for their REN, REA or E number and agency name, then check it yourself on the official LPPEH site. The registered name and phone number must match the person you're dealing with.
Can I pay a house deposit into the agent's personal account?
No. Pay only company accounts — the developer's housing development account for new projects, or a registered agency's or lawyer's account for subsale — and ask for an official receipt.
Do I need an agent to apply for RMMJ?
No. PKPJ has never appointed agents or middlemen. You apply yourself through eRumah Johor, free of charge.
What if I already sent money to a scammer?
Call 997 (NSRC) at once — it runs 24 hours — so the money can be blocked, tell your bank, then make a police report and keep all evidence.
NSRC called me — is it real?
No. NSRC does not contact the public by phone or WhatsApp. Any call claiming to be NSRC is a scam; dial 997 yourself if needed.
Sources & further reading
- Utusan Malaysia — Enam tip elak ditipu ejen hartanah
- LPPEH — Lembaga Penilai, Pentaksir, Ejen Harta Tanah dan Pengurus Harta
- Selangor Journal — Didakwa di bawah Seksyen 30(1)(e) Akta 242
- Sinar Harian — 20 aduan penipuan scammer RMMJ babit kerugian RM155,000
- MyGOV — Hotline NSRC 997
- Berita RTM — NSRC diterajui PDRM
- iProperty — Apa itu Akta Pemajuan Perumahan (HDA)
- KPKT — TEDUH: semakan status projek perumahan