How VIEWAPP is Changing the Game in the Online Real Estate Marketplace
The online real estate market has become a key channel for finding accommodation in recent years. Platforms for selling and renting apartments and houses have become the first point of contact between owners, agents, and millions of users. But along with the growth in audience and transaction volume, another trend has intensified—fraud and fake listings.
Today, almost everyone who has searched for accommodation online has encountered this: overly attractive offers that disappear after the first call; identical apartments "for rent" in different neighborhoods at once; listings that get no response—all of this negatively impacts how users perceive the platform: trust is undermined, search efficiency drops, the conversion of views into actual showings and deals decreases, and the cost of attracting and retaining customers increases. Platforms are forced to strengthen moderation and introduce manual checks, which increases operational expenses and slows down product development.
Simultaneously, the risk of legal claims and media backlash grows—for major classifieds, this is a direct threat to their reputation and profitability. To restore user confidence and maintain a competitive advantage, tools are needed that don't just detect fakes after the fact, but prevent their appearance at the moment of publication.
Let's take a closer look at the details and scale of the situation
Phantom listings have long been a headache for marketplaces. Apartments with unrealistically low prices or "glossy" photos turn out to be traps: some collect contacts of trusting clients, others trick people into making advance payments, while others simply drive traffic to their pages. Such schemes are especially active in cities with high demand, where the desire to find a good deal overshadows caution.
Violations of the law create no fewer problems. In Spain, for instance, every listing for the sale or rent of accommodation must include the property's energy efficiency rating—it reflects its energy efficiency level and is confirmed by an official certificate. In practice, however, a significant portion of publications go live without this rating or with distorted data, misleading users and undermining the legal stability of the market.
- VIEWAPP's technology can change this situation: along with a digital inspection, the system allows for attaching the actual certificate that confirms the authenticity of the information. This ensures transparency for listings, user confidence, and protection for the platform itself from claims by regulatory authorities.
But according to consumer organizations, up to 70–80% of listings on popular platforms are published without this document or with a forgery. For users, this means being misled, and for the platform, it means the risk of losing legal stability and facing sanctions.
Another factor is false photos and geolocation. Some owners and agents publish old or even someone else's pictures, substitute the address, trying to "generate interest." The outcome is predictable: the user wastes time on a mismatched property, becomes disappointed, and the platform faces a stream of complaints and criticism that directly hits its reputation.
Why This is Dangerous for Real Estate Classifieds and Marketplaces
The entire business model of online real estate platforms is built on trust. Users come for convenience and transparency, not for risks, and they expect to get a reliable, modern service without disappointment. The more complaints there are about fraud and fake publications, the higher the reputational costs:
- Audience loyalty drops.
- Conversion into real deals decreases.
- Attention from regulators and media intensifies.
- Competition for trust increases.
For platforms with millions of users, even a small percentage of fraudulent listings turns into thousands of cases monthly. This is a direct blow to their image and revenue.
The Technological Answer: VIEWAPP Digital Inspections with Anti-Fraud Protection
To turn the tide, the market is increasingly turning to technologies that can verify the authenticity of properties and data in listings. Modern digital inspection solutions include:
- Photo and video authenticity control. The user cannot upload images from their gallery—photos are taken only during the inspection, and the system checks their integrity and source.
- Geolocation verification. Anti-fraud algorithms record the actual location of the shoot and display it in the report. Any attempt to substitute coordinates is immediately detected.
- Fake image filtering. The system identifies screenshots, collages, and low-quality images, blocking their use.
- Document control. The scenario can include the mandatory capture of an energy certificate or other documents, reducing the risks of legal violations.
- Analysis of finish and furnishing levels. Artificial intelligence automatically classifies the quality of the interior and the presence of furnishings. This provides new search filters: from "economy" to "premium," with or without furniture.
Moreover, the digital inspection itself can serve as ready-made content for placement on the platform!
The Effect on the Market
Implementing VIEWAPP's digital inspection technology with fraud protection offers a whole range of advantages. First and foremost, it increases user trust: verified listings become a symbol of authenticity and reliability, creating a sense of security for users searching for accommodation. Simultaneously, the share of fraudulent schemes decreases—fewer complaints, conflicts, and negative reviews, which directly impacts the platform's image and customer retention.
Compliance with regulations is equally important. A platform that integrates VIEWAPP minimizes legal risks and claims from regulatory authorities, demonstrating maturity and a responsible attitude towards market rules. This is complemented by new search capabilities: users get flexible filters and access to a "clean" market, making the service more valuable and convenient.
For the platform itself, this is not only a differentiating factor—the ability to offer something competitors don't have yet—but also a new level of profitability. A higher level of trust means an increase in the number of deals, more time users spend on the platform, and opens access to premium services: from promoting verified listings to additional tools for agencies and developers. As a result, the marketplace doesn't just protect its reputation; it turns trust into a sustainable source of income.
Fake listings and fraud are a systemic problem in the online real estate market. But it can and must be solved technologically, and as soon as possible. Digital inspections with anti-fraud mechanisms turn listings into verified and transparent assets, returning the main thing to users—trust.
And it is precisely trust, transparency, and convenience that are the factors determining leadership in the real estate classifieds market.