Gardaí issue warning to students to be wary of accommodation fraud

Gardaí are reminding people to to be wary of rental scams as the academic year returns.

Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan of the Gardaí National Economic Crime Bureau warned people that they should only use “recognised letting agencies or deal with people who are bona fida and trusted.”

“Websites can be cloned, check the URL to ensure it’s a real website and take note of the privacy and refund policy sections,” he said.

“Be very wary of social media advertisements or where a person letting the location will only communicate via messenger or Whatsapp.

“You should push for direct answers and if responses are vague disengage immediately.

“Watch out for unsolicited contacts or where the contact appears to be based in other jurisdictions and especially if there is a sense of urgency like “a one-time offer”.”

Detective Superintendent Cryan said that if you have decided to take up the offer only use “trusted money transfer systems, An Garda Síochána would recommend using a credit card.”

“Never transfer money direct, pay cash, pay into cryptocurrency wallets.

“Be wary if a website is asking you to send money to a random PayPal address or asking you to wire it by Western Union or pay in iTunes gift cards or ask you to pay for long-term rental accommodation via a short-term letting website or only deals in cryptocurrency.

“Most of the time, those methods are done to avoid scrutiny and ensure that a transaction can not be reversed,” he says.

Some red flags or warning signs to look out for are: when the landlord is unable to meet up in person; when the communication is only through text or Whatsapp; when the property is offered with no questions asked and payment is demanded immediately before signing the lease; or when you are asked to pay cash, cryptocurrency, or money via a non-bank transfer (such as a wire transfer).