Rental Listing Scams in Sweden
Fake rental listings on Blocket and Facebook Marketplace targeting Swedish house-hunters, collecting deposits for properties that are unavailable or non-existent.
Part of: Rental Listing Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sweden's highly competitive rental market — particularly Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö — is heavily exploited by rental fraudsters. Fake listings appear on Blocket.se and Facebook Marketplace, often below market price, and collect SEK deposits before the victim discovers the property is inaccessible.
Boverket (Swedish housing agency) and Hyresgästföreningen (Tenants Union) have warned about persistent rental fraud as the housing shortage continues. Young people and newcomers to Swedish cities are disproportionately affected.
How this scam works on Sweden
A convincing listing appears on Blocket.se at below-market price for a central Stockholm apartment. The 'landlord' communicates only via email or Messenger, claiming to be abroad on assignment and unable to show the property.
They request first-month rent plus deposit via Swish or bank transfer to 'hold' the apartment, promising to send keys on return. After payment, the listing disappears and contact ceases.
Some operations use Airbnb-style contracts in Swedish, complete with fabricated BankID signatures, to appear legitimate before requesting deposits.
Common red flags
- Rental price substantially below comparable listings on Hemnet or Booli
- Landlord communicates only via email or Messenger, never agrees to show the property
- Request for deposit before in-person or verified video viewing
- Landlord claims to be abroad and will post keys after payment
- Listing photos appear on other Swedish property sites via reverse-image search
- Pressure: 'many applicants — first to pay secures it'
How to protect yourself
- Always view a rental property in person before paying any deposit
- Verify the landlord's ownership via Lantmäteriet property register at lantmateriet.se
- Pay deposits only to a verified bank account with Swish registered to a named individual or company
- Conduct reverse-image searches on all listing photos
- Use Hyresgästföreningen resources at hyresgastforeningen.se for safe renting guidance
- Report suspicious listings to Blocket.se via the platform flag function
How to report it
- Flag the listing on Blocket.se
- File a police report at polisen.se
- Contact Konsumentverket at konsumentverket.se for consumer rights guidance
Frequently asked questions
How can I verify a Swedish landlord's identity before paying a deposit?
Ask for a BankID-verified document and confirm property ownership at Lantmäteriet (lantmateriet.se). A legitimate landlord will welcome identity verification.