How a Summer Room Rental Turned Into a Scam in Ibiza
The Search for a Place to Stay
Marta, a young woman from Seville, was looking for a room to rent in Ibiza for the summer. She found an advertisement on Telegram offering a small house in Sant Josep. The advertiser said she would share the place only with him and his dog.
Making the First Payment
After watching a few videos of the property and chatting online, Marta felt confident. She asked friends living on the island to hand over 650 euros to reserve the room.
When the Requests Changed
A month later, the landlord asked for another 400 euros as a deposit and 650 euros for April’s rent. This time he wanted the money sent to his girlfriend’s bank account, without any note about the rent. Marta complied, trusting the arrangement.
Discovering Hidden Details
Soon after, Marta learned that the landlord’s partner would also be living in the house—a fact that had never been mentioned. She also realized the property was only about 25‑30 square meters and had just one bedroom.
Arriving in Ibiza
In May, Marta arrived with her partner and went to the address. The place looked like a cluster of tiny houses for seasonal workers. When the door opened, she saw a room that was far from what the videos showed.
The Reality Inside
- The living room had been turned into a makeshift bedroom.
- Boxes, garbage bags, tools, hoses, and appliances were piled everywhere.
- A bed sat next to a wall of junk; a closet acted as a divider between the sleeping area and a tiny kitchen.
- The kitchen was greasy, with leftover food stuck to the stove and dirty foil covering plates.
- Outside, mattresses, tires, cardboard, and plastic bags lay scattered among the plants.
Marta described the scene as a disaster, comparable to extreme hoarding, and said it was impossible to live there.
Trying to Fix the Situation
After getting the keys, Marta and her partner went to the Civil Guard to report the problem. Officers first suggested she talk to the landlord calmly to see if he could fix the place.
She spoke with him; he admitted the situation wasn’t right and promised to clean it, but Marta explained that a few days of tidying wouldn’t make the space livable.
Finding a New Place and Seeking a Refund
With help from friends, Marta secured another room in central Ibiza. She then tried to recover the money she had paid for the room she never used.
She claimed a total of 1 700 euros: two months’ rent (650 euros each) plus the 400 euros deposit.
Despite repeated promises (“I’ll pay you tomorrow”), the landlord never returned the cash. After waiting over a month, Marta went back to the Civil Guard with chat logs, receipts, and other evidence to file a formal fraud complaint.
Why This Matters for Teens
Ibiza’s summer housing market is tight, and many young workers rush to accept rooms without seeing them first. Marta’s story shows how important it is to:
- Verify the exact conditions of a rental before sending money.
- Ask for a written contract or clear receipt.
- Use traceable payment methods and keep records.
- Trust your instincts—if something feels off, pause and investigate.
Conclusion
Marta’s experience turned a hopeful summer plan into a stressful lesson about rental scams. By sharing her story, she hopes other teens will stay cautious, protect their money, and avoid ending up in a similar situation.
Reference: Source
Images Credit: www.diariodeibiza.es