Rental Listing Scams in Denmark
Fraudulent rental listings on BoligPortal and Facebook Marketplace targeting Danish house-hunters with below-market apartments that collect deposits for inaccessible properties.
Part of: Rental Listing Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Denmark's tight rental market — especially in Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense — is exploited by scammers who post convincing listings on BoligPortal.dk, Lejebolig.dk, and Facebook Marketplace. Victims pay deposits via MobilePay or bank transfer for properties they can never access.
The Danish Consumer Council (Forbrugerrådet Tænk) and Lejernes Landsorganisation (National Tenants Association) both document rental fraud and provide free guidance. Copenhagen's high demand-to-supply ratio means below-market listings attract rapid responses that reduce scrutiny.
How this scam works on Denmark
A Copenhagen apartment listing appears at DKK 2,000–3,000 below the neighbourhood average. The 'landlord' responds by email or WhatsApp only, claiming to be abroad on humanitarian or business assignment.
They request first month's rent plus deposit via MobilePay or bank transfer to 'secure the property', promising to send keys by courier. After payment, contact ceases.
Some operations send a Danish-language lejekontrakt (tenancy agreement) with a plausible CPR number for the 'landlord' to add authenticity.
Common red flags
- Monthly leje (rent) substantially below comparable listings on BoligPortal or Lejebolig
- Landlord communicates only digitally, refuses in-person fremvisning (viewing)
- Full deposit requested before viewing
- Landlord claims to be abroad and will send keys after payment
- CPR or CVR number in the lease cannot be verified via borger.dk or cvr.dk
- Listing photos found on other Danish property sites via reverse-image search
How to protect yourself
- Always attend an in-person fremvisning before paying any deposit
- Verify the landlord's property ownership via the Danish land register (tinglysning) at tinglysning.dk
- Use Lejernes Landsorganisation's standard lejekontrakt checklist
- Pay deposits only via a known IBAN matched to the landlord's verified identity
- Never send MobilePay to a landlord you have not met in person
- Report fake listings to BoligPortal.dk via their fraud-reporting function
How to report it
- Flag the listing on BoligPortal.dk or Lejebolig.dk
- File a police report at politi.dk
- Seek guidance from Forbrugerrådet Tænk at taenk.dk
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a Danish landlord to ask for rent before I've seen the apartment?
No — a legitimate landlord will usually allow a viewing, in person or live video, before any money changes hands. Refusal to show the property combined with pressure to pay quickly is one of the strongest signs of a rental scam.
How do I check who actually owns a rental property in Denmark?
You can search ownership records at tinglysning.dk (the Danish land registry) using the property address. If the name doesn't match whoever is requesting your deposit, treat that as a serious warning sign.
What happens if I already sent a MobilePay deposit to a fake Copenhagen landlord?
Contact MobilePay and your bank immediately to ask whether the transfer can still be recalled, though success isn't guaranteed once funds have moved. File a police report at politi.dk as soon as possible, since it can help if the account is later investigated.
Is a Danish tenancy deposit legally protected?
Under Danish Lejeloven, a deposit (depositum) must not exceed three months' rent and the landlord must return it (minus legitimate deductions) within 14 days of move-out. Paying before viewing removes these protections.