The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) has arrested a 38-year-old man from Sarpang, identified as Sonam Dhendup, for allegedly running a rental scam that deceived dozens of people across the country through fake house rental advertisements.
According to the Thimphu Police Station (PS), the suspect posed as a landlord or property agent on Facebook, using multiple fake identities, including Sonam Wangchuk, Sonam Dorji, and Sonam Wangdi, to post fake listings of 1BHK and 2BHK apartments for rent.
Once contacted via Messenger or WhatsApp, he would persuade interested tenants to pay security deposits ranging from half to two months’ rent as booking advances.
To gain trust, he shared images and videos of vacant houses and provided various bank account details to receive the payments. Victims would later discover that the promised properties either did not exist or were not available for rent.
So far in 2025, Thimphu police have received complaints from 12 individuals who were scammed by Sonam Dhendup, losing a total of Nu 145,200. In 2024, Thimphu PS alone recorded 43 similar cases, with a combined loss of Nu 418,400. Of this, only Nu 62,000 has been recovered.
Investigations revealed that the suspect remained mostly near Bhutan’s border areas, and cashed out money by using random Bhutanese bank accounts, promising account holders a commission for their cooperation.
RBP has since frozen multiple bank accounts used in the scam. Initially, account holders were considered suspects until further inquiry traced the fraud back to Dhendup.
Beyond Thimphu, similar complaints have surfaced from Dagana, Phuentsholing, Tsirang, Sarpang, and many other dzongkhags pointing to a wider pattern of deception centered around fake rental postings.
RBP is urging the public not to make advance payments for house rentals without verifying the property in person.
“No matter how desperate one is for housing, do not blindly trust online advertisements. Always verify the property before transferring any money,” RBP says.
Rental property listing scams typically aim to steal money from interested renters. The scammers will try to get you to pay for a security deposit or move-in fee without ever seeing the apartment or rental unit, and they will keep the money without any intention of renting a unit to you.
To avoid this from happening to you, here are some warning signs to watch out for, ways to prevent being scammed.
Firstly, never make payments without seeing the house or apartment yourself. If you are far away, ask a trusted friend or family member to check it out.
Also, be cautious if the landlord asks for upfront security deposits before any agreement is signed or keys are handed over.
Additionally, ask for identification and contact details. Cross-check their name and number through other platforms or with local authorities if needed. If possible, check if the person renting out the property actually owns it or has the right to lease it.
Furthermore, if the rent is far below market rate or if the offer feels rushed or overly generous, it’s likely a scam. If you suspect a scam, report it immediately to the police or relevant authorities like the RBP.
