Avoid rental scams: 8 things to check before you pay
See the home. Check who is letting it. Read the contract. Pay only when name, address and account add up. Here is the order.
Updated 1 August 2026 · By BoligButler
The essentials in 60 seconds
See the home, check the landlord, read the contract and pay in a traceable way.
One odd detail is not necessarily a scam. But if address, identity, contract and payment cannot be documented together, stop and look into it before you continue.
Steps 1–4
Before the viewing
Start with what you can check without sending money or sensitive information.
- 01
Is the price realistic?
Compare with homes of the same type and size in the area. A low price does not prove a scam, but it is a good reason to check everything else extra carefully.
- 02
Find the address and photos again
Search for the address, a distinctive sentence from the ad, and the photos. Other addresses, contacts or prices for the same home need an explanation.
- 03
See the home – not just a video
Visit the home in person before you transfer money. Check that the address, the home and the person you meet add up.
- 04
Check who is behind the letting
Look up owner details on Boligejer or Tinglysning. If the contact is not the owner, ask for proof of the right to let or sublet. An owner lookup does not by itself prove the person’s identity.
Fictional example
Can you spot the warning signs?
Each detail can have an innocent explanation. Together they are a reason to stop, check, and wait before paying.
Rental listing
2-room apartment in Frederiksberg
5,200 kr./mo.
Home seeker
Landlord
- 1Price far below the market
- 2No in-person viewing
- 3Time pressure before checks and a contract
Steps 5–8
Before you sign and pay
When the home and the person look genuine, the documents and the payment still have to match.
- 05
Get the agreement in writing
Make sure rent, deposit, prepaid rent, move-in date and special terms are in the contract. Get a copy with both parties’ signatures before you pay.
- 06
Check the recipient before paying
Pay in a traceable way. If the name on the account or the payee does not match the contract, stop and get documentation before you transfer.
- 07
Keep MitID and ID to yourself
Never share MitID codes, and only approve something you started yourself. Do not send photos of your passport, driving licence or health card to someone you have not verified; the details can be misused.
- 08
Save the documentation
Save the ad, the conversation, the contract, the contact details and the receipts. That makes it easier to act if the listing disappears.
Stop
Typical warning signs
The landlord will not show the home in person.
You are asked to pay before you have seen the home and the contract.
The price is far below comparable homes.
Names on the ad, contract, account and ID do not match.
The landlord says the key will be sent once you have paid.
You are pressured to decide or transfer money immediately.
Payment is requested in cash, cryptocurrency or gift cards.
Photos or the address appear in other ads with different details.
Save this list
Checklist before you pay
- I have been inside the home and seen the physical address.
- I have met the landlord or a documented representative.
- I have checked ownership or permission to sublet.
- The names of the contact, the contract and the payee make sense together.
- I have read the full tenancy agreement and understood every amount.
- Both parties have signed, and I have my own copy.
- Payment is made by a traceable bank transfer.
- I have saved the ad, correspondence and documentation.
If something has gone wrong
If you have already paid or shared information
- 1
Stop further payments and do not make more agreements with the person.
- 2
Contact your bank immediately, say you suspect fraud, and ask what options you have.
- 3
Save the ad, the full conversation, the contract, contact details and receipts.
- 4
Report the suspicion to the police and the platform. If you suspect misuse, temporarily lock your MitID via MitID.dk or contact MitID Support.
Official sources
- Danish Police: Avoid holiday and rental scams
- Boligejer: Look up owner details
- Tinglysning.dk: Check ownership
- MitID: Help if you suspect misuse
This guide is general information and not legal advice. BoligButler is not a party to the tenancy agreement; always verify the details with the landlord before you sign or pay.
Ready to search?
Find the home first. Check the details before you say yes.
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