Helsinki police say they have received record levels of reports of attempted property fraud this year, with increasing numbers of fake property adverts appearing in an attempt to deceive househunters.
The popular rentals search engine Oikotie shows a large, one-bedroom flat in the swanky Helsinki neighbourhood of Kruununhaka, up for rent at just 700 euros a month, utility bills included.
But that sounds too good to be true, and it should set alarm bells ringing, says estate agent Anne Viita. "You've got to think why this person would want to rent you this flat at so far below market value," Viita says. "If you can visit the property, then fine, but be suspicious."
Police in Helsinki say they received 32 reports of rental fraud in the first half of this year, which they say is a record, and points to a trend which has emerged in the last five years.
In Kruununhaka, the signs are that this rental is another fake. The management company tells Yle that the name on the advert doesn't match anyone owning a property in the building.
“There are two clear signs that an ad might not be what it seems,” says agent Anne Viita. “Many are written in English, and they say that the owner has had to move abroad at short notice. Or they’re in Finnish, but the owner is abroad. Often the written Finnish contains grammar mistakes.” This, she says, combined with the very low rent is a danger signal.
The owner being abroad makes it impossible for tenants to view the flat before taking it on. But once an unwitting renter has parted with the security deposit and first month’s rent, the supposed landlord disappears without trace.
Viita suggests renters should only transfer the cash once they're in possession of the keys.
