Students urged not to fall for rental fraudsters as new term starts

By Cate McCurry, Press Association

Students have been urged not to fall for accommodation fraud and fake landlords, as gardaí warn that if the rent appears “too good to be true”, then it is.

As students prepare the academic year ahead, gardaí have issued a nationwide warning over a sharp annual spike in accommodation fraud.

Crime figures for the first seven months of this year reveal more than 230 reports of rental and reservations scams, with total reported losses standing at more than €400,000.

This comes ahead of the seasonal peak in August to October as returning and first-time students search for housing.

They have also issued a warning to students at being targeted and manipulated to act as “money mules”.

Detective Inspector Alan Govern of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) said there is “no easy money to be made out there”.

The majority of money mule bank accounts belong to those aged between 18 and 24 years of age, with some cases involving children as young as 14, according to FraudSmart.

Mr Govern made the comments as thousands of Leaving Certificate students await the first round of college offers.

“It is a very exciting time for them. For some they will be moving away from home for the very first time and they will be looking for accommodation, so this leads us to the accommodation fraud and what we have seen for the last few years in relation to that fraud.

“Looking at the reports, we can see that approximately 320 were made in 2023, which was down 16 per cent on the previous year. The average age of a victim is 31. Then in 2024, we have 351 reports which was 8 per cent rise in reports.

“In 2025 there 399 reports, up by 14 per cent on the previous year. We have had over 230 reports in 2026 and that is before we go into the peak season for this type of crime.

“For 2023 there has been an approximate loss of €550,000 but it is increasing since 2023.

In 2024, we had approximately 660,000 in loss and in 2025 680,000 and at 2026 we are over €410,000.

“These are college and university accommodation, they are rent or lease fraud and holidays bookings.

“We have done some analysts – 59 per cent of the incidents are reported more than seven days after it has occurred.

“We can see there are incidents right throughout Dublin and the southern region, east and even north west region.

We ask the public to use recognised letting agencies or deal with people who are bona fide and trustworthy

“There are notable spikes seen in 2024 and 2025 compared to 2023 and this suggests there is an increase in this particular type of crime in recent years.

“The property either does not exist or wasn’t actually available for rent.

“The offenders are posing as landlords, estate agents or property managers.

“The victims are asked to pay for a deposit or rent or a holding fee before viewing the property.

“Once the payment is made, the offender is gone and there is no contact.”

He continued: “Do your own research on the advertised property.

“Use the Residential Tenancies Board website because that has the rent index and will tell you of what the general prices are for that general area.

“Look and see what facilities are in that area, the public transport links to and from college and whatever shopping facilities are there for students.

“When you are dealing with the person letting the property you know and have that information already in your knowledge so you know if they will try and tell you something that is not correct.

“We ask the public to use recognised letting agencies or deal with people who are bona fide and trustworthy.

“If you decide to take up an offer, use trusted money transfer systems and I would recommend using a credit card.

“Never agree to rent a property without first having the opportunity to view it.

“Ensure the keys work in the property and you have contact details for the landlord or letting agent.

“You should meet for a tour of the landlord to see the property and if not then ask why.

“Don’t hand over cash or make transfer through money transfer apps or through cryptocurrency, pay in a way that is secure and traceable.

“Always report matter to the guards and bank if you are victim of crime in this area.

“If the rent seems too good to be true, then it probably is as there is no such thing as cheap accommodation.”

He encouraged people to “disengage immediately” if the person only communicates through messenger or WhatsApp or provides vague responses.