Fake online messages offering accommodation through government housing schemes are circulating online, prompting a warning from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Officials say the fraudulent posts and messages claim to come from government housing initiatives and are offering accommodation to members of the public.
The Department has urged anyone who receives a message claiming to offer homes through government schemes, or seeking payment or personal information, to report it to An Garda Síochána and avoid clicking suspicious links.
Anyone who may already have engaged with such messages or shared personal information online is also being advised to act quickly by contacting their bank or any relevant organisation to warn that their data may have been compromised.
The Department said it has become aware of a number of scams currently active online that falsely claim to come from official housing programmes such as Housing for All or “Ireland’s Housing Plan”.
According to officials, the messages are designed to appear as if they come from official government sources, a tactic frequently used by fraudsters to gain people’s trust.
Members of the public are being urged to exercise caution and to make sure they are accessing information through official government websites when seeking details about housing supports or accommodation.
The Department also warned people not to click on suspicious links or reply to unsolicited messages offering housing opportunities.
Officials stressed that the Department does not contact members of the public directly to provide accommodation and does not request personal or financial information through unsolicited online messages.
The Department confirmed that it has reported the matter to An Garda Síochána.