Its a scam

Deposit money are usually in a separate bank account at your name. Thats the normal practice here. I dont think its any different for interns. As you will be in Geneva for the summer only you are much better searching for a room in someones flat. Much less hussle. But be prepared to sign a contact and pay for deposit

Okay thank you. Who sets up the separate bank account for the deposit - me or the owner?

If I want to do this before I arrive, I would sign the contract and send it to the owner and then pay the deposit ONCE I arrive, correct (not before)?

Also, would you suggest getting an attorney?

> The owner is living in the UK but has an American bank account.

This sounds VERY fishy.  How comes he doesn't own a Swiss bank account?  Please report the scam to the admins so they can deal with it.

To answer your question, you set up the deposit bank account (in your Swiss bank) according to the info given by the landlord.  It will be a shared, locked bank account which will be released at the end of the rent term; you (or the landlord) will be unable to access the money in it but it will continue to pay interests. 

This is the usual way of setting up a deposit when dealing with Régies (=home renting agencies); if you rent from a private, things are often less formal.

dear Thomas,

I must warn you! when we were looking for the appartment in Geneva before coming here, we also found very nice offers of the appartments for a very good price. The owner also sent us photos of the house, his passport scan and some other docs, and requested the money on his bank account. But when we started digging deeper, asking him some questions, he started to be confused, his info was not true to life, it was evident! And as far as I remember, he was also british.

If you think, that to find appartment in Geneva is so easy, than you are totally mistaken, for some people it takes up to half a year and more, and they live already in the area and spend lots of time and effort to find it, and such a splendid offer - as they promise you is a fraud, it's just not real, so, don't transfer your money to any account, come here and you will see the situation for yourself.

Good luck and I hope i was not too late... Anyway, let us all know how is it going, I am very curious about your situation.

Dear All,

Thank you so much for the warnings! I had a gut reaction that something was fishy but I guess I was naive and willing to believe this woman. Anyway, I started asking more questions like you recommended, and the story seemed to be more and more unbelievable. When I started pushing back, she said to wire her 1000CHF within 24 hours if I don't want to miss out on the rental.

Anyway, long story short, I politely said thanks, but no thanks and ended that quickly.

fyi, if you see a listing for Place de Cornavin 14, beware!

p.s also this person was British with an Austrian passport.

Guys, it's great we can all talk about it, and warn the others, but c'mon, don't be so innocent, it's so evident that the guys like these are scammers...

Well, good luck to everyone and let's learn from each others' experience!;)