Across Ibiza, demand for rental rooms this tourist season is fueling widespread scams. Among the reported cases are Guillermo and Yolanda, who both encountered rogue landlords after paying a deposit. Yolanda filed a police report despite officials indicating there was little they could do in such situations.
A man named William traveled from Gran Canaria to Huelva on May 2 with plans to reach Ibiza by car. He used to go from Huelva to Dénia, then onward to the island. Three people had a room ready for him, including a signed contract and a 500 euro deposit to guard against fraud, but the arrangement proved to be deceitful.
According to Cristina Garcia, the mother of one of the investors, the ship that carried her son to Huelva malfunctioned and drifted for eight hours. This delay meant he could not catch the vessel from Dénia and was told he could reschedule for the fourth day rather than the third. She recalls warning her son to verify everything before paying a deposit, noting the rising number of scams in Ibiza, and urging caution before committing any funds.
Guillermo had been in touch with the supposed landlord for several days and received a message indicating a late arrival. The message suggested it would be fine, then communication stopped, leaving questions unanswered for the young renter.
“Mom, could you call my landlord for me?” Cristina saw that text on her phone. She asked him to share screenshots of the contract and the chats with the landlord. The contract appeared to bear the seal of a law firm, and Cristina began searching for an address. She emailed the firm explaining what had happened, but there was no reply from the supposed owner, increasing her worry that her son would arrive on the island with nowhere to stay.
The response she received pointed to an office in Madrid that had no connection to the man in question. Cristina felt that several people had already contacted the firm. She recalls thinking that the landlord had faced a strong reprimand, and she suspects others may have reported similar incidents.
With no immediate solution, Cristina booked seven nights in a hotel to give her son time to find a real room. Once she arrived on Ibiza and began working, she herself took on the task of locating options. She advised her son to stay vigilant and to check his mailbox and the authenticity of any offers they received. A room eventually opened up for Guillermo at a price of 600 euros, which, while high, was seen as a stroke of luck given the circumstances.
Complaint to the Police
Yolanda, a teacher at a local institute, arrived on the island at the end of February after signing a lease and settling into a hostel for a few days. She soon found a room in an apartment to share with the owner, but friction arose due to strict living rules and a reluctance to sign a formal agreement that would allow her to register there. This prompted her to contact a host she had found through a popular listing site in the area.
She was offered a place in Vila for 700 euros a month, not including utilities. She explained that she needed the space only for a few months until her contract expired, and the host assured her everything would be in order with a proper contract and the option to stay if necessary. She agreed to a 300 euro upfront payment, believing there were many other interested parties and that the space would be held for her. Soon after, the landlord vanished with the money. A few days later she stood at the National Police station to report the incident. The officer informed her that there was little police could do in such cases. She now faces the possibility of continuing to stay in her current accommodation and budgeting for alternatives, including shorter-term arrangements, while seeking a safer solution for her living situation on the island.