(edit title) Flat hunting in Stockholm Paying a deposit before a showing Options

[tuborgian]

We are living in Stockholm and are now on the third round of flat-hunting in a year..oh the joys of living in Stockholm. But this is a new one on me: people wanting a month's 'deposit' to show how serious you are before seeing the flat. So far two people have asked for this. The first gave their personal number and bank account details and the second wants to use Internetgirot.se. Has anyone done this? Are either of these a scam? Is the Internetgirot.se safe? Your thoughts please, as I want to find somewhere to live, but obviously do not want to lose a month's rent.

[HannahSwain]

From everything I have read, this is a huge scam. I encountered tons of them while searching for an apartment, even though most of them seem so well meaning.

http://www.thelocal.se/33516/20110502/

[jan.petras]

Excuse me, but isn't a showing's exactly that? Helping you decide wether you want the apartment or not? How is paying a deposit compatible with the showing? I can't see how it could work.

[Shibumi]

It's a scam. You will never see the apartment as it probably does not exist, and you will never get your money back.

The likelihood that the flat-owner is legit and simply doesn't know that requesting money for a viewing is a well known housing scam is very, very low.

[gplusa]

That scam has been doing the rounds for a while now. A couple of Scots got busted trying it last year from memory.

[tuborgian]

Thanks for your replies. The reason given for the need to pay a month is that the would-be landlord is not in stockholm and needs to guarentee that you will turn up and as evidence that you have the funds. (very suspect I know)

Normally there is no way that I would consider this, but as anyone who has tried looking for a place to live in Stockholm knows, you get desperate!

But this thing: Internetgirot.se looks interesting as it is recommended by blocket and the money is held until the details are agreed.

Also, one person gave their personal number and bank account details. Doesn't that mean that if they disappeared with the money, then I could go to the police and track them down?

Just wondering if these are scams how they actually work.

[skogsbo]

That scam has been doing the rounds for a while now. A couple of Scots got busted trying it last year from memory.

probably learnt it from the Scottish system, where after viewing a property and you like it, naturally you then want to see the sellers survey, you have to pay the agent for a copy, perhaps a £100, but the seller has already paid perhaps £500-600 to get the survey done, proper robbery. Then the sealed bidding starts, it's like throwing money away, gave up on buying anything in Scotland many years ago.

[gplusa]

We had a similar situation back in NZ when we were selling our property. Not that it affected us directly. One couple were interested enough to pay for a building survey. Cost something around 500 NZD from memory. In the end they decided not to buy the property (not as a result of the survey, I should add). The next couple who were interested, also decided to have a building survey carried out. "Hang on", said the selling agent. "The Smiths had a building survey completed, you can probably buy a copy quite cheaply from them". So they contacted the Smiths, who sold them a copy of the survey for 300 NZD. A saving of 200 NZD for the second couple. Along comes interested couple number 3 who, again, decide to get a building survey (many banks were insisting on surveys at the time). You can see what's coming next. Couple number 1, who bought the survey but not the house, are now running at a profit. Nice little earner.

[Shibumi]

I have no experience with it, but Internetgirot.se does look interesting. If it is indeed a legitimate escrow service, then I don't see how you could get scammed. Blocket.se links directly to them, so it looks pretty legit. Anyone ever used them? Anyone ever get scammed even though they were using an escrow service?

[Legolas]

Hold on, internetgirot.se can also be misused. They hold the money unless both parties agree to the money being paid to one of them. In the worst case money may be split 50-50 if there is no agreement. They are, however, a genuine service and maintain a list of scammers. You can give them a call with details of the person who you want to transfer money to and they can do a check.

[Yorkshireman]

Also, one person gave their personal number and bank account details. Doesn't that mean that if they disappeared with the money, then I could go to the police and track them down?

Yes and No. Mainly no, giving a personal number and bank details just makes it seem like it is legit. The burden of proof that it was a scam would lie with You if they kept the monies. They can easily state that you came to view the apartment etc... And as You know it is difficult to find an apartment in Stockholm, landlords dont need to worry about no-shows as they would have loads of potential viewings.

How many times has it been reported about apartment scams asking for monies in advance! Plus tonnes of cases where the same, non-existing, items have been sold to numerous parties at the same time!

General rule with apartments is pay nothing in advance, especially if you have not seen the apartment and dont have a written agreement in hand.

[orangetree]

dont know your conditions but you can buy an apartment, a bit suburb but easily if you have a job and salary more than 6 months. From hemnet.se you can calculate monthly payment and apply banks via phone. They even give a seperate credit for the cash part. That was how i solved.