Gardaí have issued a warning regarding student accommodation scams, ahead of a likely surge in fraudulent activity as first-year students search for housing and returning students seek places for the new academic year, reports RTE.
According to Gardaí, reports of rental scams increased by 22% in the first half of this year, with roughly one third of such incidents taking place during August and September annually.
Data from Gardaí show that 34% of victims of rental fraud are under 25 years of age, while 66% are under 33.
Rental scams usually involve a victim paying money, often as a deposit, to secure housing, only to later find out the transaction was a scam, reports RTE.
This can occur when someone offering the property claims to be abroad and insists on a deposit before a viewing; or when everything appears legitimate until the renter discovers that the property doesn’t exist, is already lived in, or the keys provided don’t work and the ‘landlord’ vanishes.
Gardaí stated that 160 cases of accommodation fraud were reported in the first half of this year, with €385,000 lost, compared to €617,000 reported for the whole of 2024 so far.
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau is urging people to be alert for warning signs and noted that if a rental listing seems unusually attractive, it is likely a scam, reports RTE.
Red flags include listings that appear only on social media or where communication with the person offering the property happens only via Messenger or WhatsApp.
Other suspicious indicators include poor spelling or grammar in listings, limited information, urgency or pressure tactics like “a one-time offer”, landlords unwilling to meet at the property, and scenarios where payment is requested upfront without asking questions, reports RTE.
Gardaí advise against handing over cash or using Revolut. Instead, payments should be made using secure methods that can be tracked and potentially refunded.
Prospective tenants are encouraged to use only established letting agencies or their college’s accommodation portals, and to be cautious of duplicate or fake websites.
The Irish Council for International Students’ Policy and Communications Manager warned that while all students are vulnerable, international students face a higher risk of being targeted, reports RTE.
“I’m thinking really of those that don’t have English as their first language. Many international students come here to study English so they might be in a vulnerable position when it comes to finding accommodation,” Brian Hearne said, reports RTE.
Speaking on RTÉ’s *Morning Ireland*, Mr Hearne shared the story of a Brazilian couple who were conned out of several thousand euro.
“They and their partner handed over money to a fraudster. The fraudster showed them the property and they were happy with it,” he said, reports RTE.
“They were given the keys, they went to move in and then when they showed up at the property there were three or four other couples there waiting to move in at the same time and they all realised they’d been scammed,” reports RTE.
Mr Hearne strongly advised students to view the property in person if possible and to verify the letting agent or landlord.
He stressed the importance of using secure payment methods and ensuring a written agreement is provided, outlining the rent, deposit, and terms of the lease.
“Very importantly, people need to trust their instincts. There’s no such thing as cheap accommodation – if something seems too good to be true then it probably is,” reports RTE.
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