Man sentenced to community service for scamming at least 18 home seekers in Amsterdam
The court in Amsterdam sentenced a 31-year-old man to 180 hours of community service and a suspended prison sentence of two months for scamming at least 18 home seekers through the Kamernet website and Facebook. The man offered non-existent or unavailable rooms to rent and then disappeared after the prospective tenants paid their down payments, totalling around €21,000.
“The defendant systematically swindled money from 18 victims over an extended period by posing as a trustworthy landlord and offering homes to rent,” the court said in its verdict.
The man mainly targeted internationals coming to Amsterdam to study or work. “They were shown a home via a video call. Upon arrival in the Netherlands, it turned out that they had been scammed and that they had no place to stay after all,” the court said. “This caused significant stress and financial damage for the victims.”
During the trial, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) pointed out that 18 victims filed police reports against the man. There may be more victims who did not come forward. The OM recommended a sentence of 18 months in prison, six of which were to be conditionally suspended.
The court decided on a lower sentence given the man’s personal circumstances and the fact that he has taken steps to start rectifying his wrongdoings.
Upon his arrest in 2024, the man acknowledged his crimes and said he regretted his actions. He told the authorities that he acted out of necessity. He had lost his job, struggled with a gambling addiction, and was financially supporting his mother.
According to the court, the man has “made positive progress” under the guidance of the probation service. He has a job, is working extra hours, and is eager to repay his victims.
“The court considers it important that the defendant retains his income so that he does not fall into financial difficulties again, the risk of recidivism is limited, and he is able to repay the victims,” the court said.
