Before any money moves, confirm three things: that the flat exists, that the person you are dealing with controls it, and that the terms are written down. A live video walk-through settles the first; public land or company registries, where accessible, help with the second; and a proper contract with an itemised bill covers the third. Pressure to skip any of these steps is itself information.
When paying, use a card or a platform with a dispute process, and keep receipts for every transfer. On arrival, walk the flat with the inventory, photograph anything worn or damaged, and send your notes in writing within 24–48 hours. Keep the same discipline at check-out — joint inspection, meter readings, a written deposit timeline — and most disputes never happen.