Students Urged to Stay Vigilant Against Rental Scams

Students are being alerted to a significant rise in rental scams, with reports increasing by 22 percent in the first half of 2024. This warning from An Garda Síochána comes in conjunction with the recent release of Leaving Certificate results and the imminent Central Applications Office (CAO) offers, which are expected this week. During this period, many students, both returning and new, are actively seeking accommodation for the upcoming academic year.

Between January and June 2024, there were 160 reported cases of accommodation fraud, resulting in total losses of approximately €385,000. This figure is already approaching the €617,000 lost throughout all of 2023. Alarmingly, around one-third of all accommodation fraud cases occur during the months of August and September, which indicates a peak season for such scams.

The demographic most affected by these scams is predominantly young adults. Statistics reveal that 34 percent of victims are under the age of 25, while 66 percent are under 33. Additionally, a slight majority of the victims, 54 percent, are men, with 46 percent being women.

Understanding Rental Fraud

Rental fraud typically occurs when individuals pay money, often in the form of a deposit, in order to secure accommodation. Victims may later discover that the property does not exist or is already occupied, leaving them without a place to stay and out of pocket. Scammers might claim to be overseas, insisting that potential renters pay a deposit before they can view the property. In other cases, fraudsters might show the property to multiple individuals, collecting several deposits before disappearing.

The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau has stressed that there is no such thing as “cheap accommodation,” particularly in urban areas. Students should be on alert if a property is advertised solely through social media platforms or if the individual behind the listing communicates only via messaging apps. Other warning signs include unsolicited offers, a sense of urgency in the messaging, advertisements containing grammar or spelling errors, and listings with minimal details or photographs.

Tips for Students

Students are advised to be cautious when dealing with potential landlords. Red flags include situations where landlords cannot meet in person to show the property, requests for immediate payment before signing a lease, and offers that seem too good to be true.

To protect themselves, renters should avoid cloned websites and familiarise themselves with their consumer rights. It is also recommended to use trusted money transfer systems, never agree to rent a property without viewing it first, and ensure that all keys work upon arrival. Ideally, properties should be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board.

As students navigate this challenging housing market, awareness and vigilance are essential in avoiding the pitfalls of rental scams.