On November 11, Way posted a video on her YouTube channel “WayLand” titled “Starting a Long-Distance Relationship + Rental Scam… Will I Be Okay?” In the video, she detailed her experience and the difficulties she’s currently facing.
With a complicated expression, Way explained, “It seems I have become a victim of a rental scam. I haven’t received my money, so this is what people commonly refer to as a rental scam.”
She shared that, despite having insurance through the Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation (HUG), she is still facing significant challenges.
Way clarified, “Just because you have HUG insurance doesn’t mean everything is resolved. To reclaim the deposit, you need to prepare extensive documentation, and the landlord has to miss payments for over two months before you can even start the process.”
Way expressed her frustration, “In the meantime, I can’t move out, and the loan interest keeps accumulating while I can’t get in touch with the landlord.”
Losing contact with the landlord is a common issue for victims of rental scams, who often have to invest considerable time and effort in lengthy legal proceedings to retrieve their deposits.
Way also described her experience of visiting the court to obtain necessary documents, stopping by local government offices and HUG branches to handle the complex procedures.
On her way to the bank, Way vented her frustration, “I just want my money back, seriously.”
Way’s story echoes the recent surge of rental scam cases across South Korea. In 2023, these scams became a growing social issue as the number of victims spiked nationwide.
Source: Wikitree
