How to Find a Room Safely

Looking for a new place to call home is an exciting adventure, and we're here to make sure it's also a safe one! When browsing online, it's always important to take necessary precautions to protect yourself. So we’ve put together tips on how to stay safe when searching for a room:

Responding to Ads

Stick to Roomgo when messaging other users. It's the safest and most reliable way to communicate with others until you’re sure you can trust them.
If you're ever unsure, feel free to run a quick search on Google or LinkedIn to verify the advertiser’s identity. If you're speaking with an agent, do an online search to make sure they're legitimate. You can also give their main office a call to confirm.
If you come across a room ad with stock images, or if the photos seem to have been taken from other online ads, it's best to be cautious. To confirm the authenticity of the photos, you can use reverse image search tools like Google Images. This will help you figure out whether the photos have been used somewhere else on the internet.
Feel free to ask the advertiser any questions you may have about the property, the neighbourhood, and the terms of the lease. Genuine advertisers will be happy to provide you with all the information you need.
If you come across an ad that offers prices that seem too good to be true, or if you're asked to pay a large amount upfront without seeing the property or signing a formal agreement, be cautious. We recommend that you visit the property in person and carefully read through the lease before making any payments.
Have you noticed that the messages don't quite match the quality of the original ad? scammers often are based outside of the Canada and their English isn’t always fluent. One way to spot a scammer is if their language gets worse after the first message or two.
Scammers use our name and logo to contact users and pretend to work for us. We will never contact you to book a viewing, arrange key delivery or collect rent.
Remember to always trust your instincts. If something feels off, it's best to take a step back and gather more information before committing.

Safety at Viewings

When meeting the advertiser for the first time, especially if it's not during a property viewing, it’s always better to choose a public spot for your peace of mind. If you're meeting with someone you don’t know, take your own transportation to and from the meeting and avoid sharing personal information until you're sure you can trust the other person.
When you can, check out the property in person. This will give you a better sense of its condition, location, and whether it meets your needs. If you can't make it, ask a friend or a family member to check it out.
Bringing a friend along with you to a viewing can make it more enjoyable and safer. But if you're going on your own, don't forget to let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back.
It's always a good idea to ask to meet everyone who lives or will be living in the property. This way, you can get to know your potential roommates and see if you all get along well. Remember to trust your instincts - if something doesn't feel right, it's okay to say no and keep looking for a place that feels more like home.

Before Handing Over Money

Your lease should contain information about your rights, responsibilities, and the conditions of your tenancy. Always ask to read it before handing over your money. When you have it, take the time to review it before committing.
Ask the advertiser for their ID just to be safe. You can also make a note of their name for extra peace of mind.
Use secure payment methods for any transactions you make. Stick to payment methods that leave a paper trail, such as bank transfers. Avoid using cash, prepaid cards or cryptocurrency payments, as these methods are less secure and leave little to no paper trail. Also, platforms like Western Union or MoneyGram should be avoided, as they are often used by scammers to receive payments anonymously and cannot be easily traced.

What We Do To Protect You

At Roomgo, we take pride in having an amazing team that works tirelessly to keep our platform safe for everyone. Our moderation team is always on the lookout and verifies every ad posted on Roomgo to detect and prevent scams.

They do this by using a combination of manual and automated flagging systems to ensure that the listings you find on our platform are legitimate and safe.

Although we strive to keep our platform scam-free, there are times when something might slip through the cracks. But we’re always notified by our users and take immediate action to remove any offending content.

If you ever come across something that seems unusual or suspicious, please use the “Flag this ad” link under every Roomgo ad to report it. If you have any questions or doubts, feel free to contact us. We have a friendly team always ready to help.