Student accommodation scams: Garda warning ahead of CAO offers

Students searching for college accommodation have been warned about rental scams after victims reported losing more than €400,000 so far this year.

An Garda Síochána recorded more than 230 reports of such scams by July 31, with a further increase feared as students compete to secure accommodation following the release of CAO offers.

The period from August to October traditionally brings a significant rise in accommodation fraud as first year and returning students search for housing close to colleges.

Gardaí said fraudsters exploit the pressure on students to find accommodation, frequently advertising properties at attractive prices and demanding deposits before prospective tenants have viewed them.

Some scammers claim to be landlords living abroad who cannot provide access to the property until an upfront payment has been made.

In other cases, fraudsters pose as landlords or letting agents, show the same property to several prospective tenants and collect deposits from each of them before disappearing.

Victims may also complete what appears to be a legitimate transaction only to discover that their keys do not work, the property is already occupied or the supposed landlord cannot be contacted.

Detective Inspector Alan Govern of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau urged students and parents to use recognised letting agencies or deal only with people whose identities can be verified.

“Be very wary of social media advertisements or where a person letting the property will only communicate via Messenger or WhatsApp,” he said.

“You should push for direct answers. If responses are vague, disengage immediately.”

Students should physically view accommodation before making a payment and should ensure that keys open the property’s locks.

Prospective tenants should also ask landlords or agents for photographic identification, check whether the tenancy is registered with the Residential Tenancies Board and compare the advertised rent with average local prices in the RTB rent index.

Gardaí recommend conducting a reverse image search on photographs used in property advertisements, as scammers frequently copy images from genuine listings.

Unusually low rents, demands for immediate payment and a refusal to allow an in-person viewing should all be treated as warning signs.

Those taking up an accommodation offer have been advised to use a credit card or another secure and traceable payment method. Payments by cash, cryptocurrency, gift cards or peer-to-peer transfer services should be avoided.

“If you have decided to take up an offer, only use trusted money transfer systems,” Detective Inspector Govern said.

“Never transfer money directly, pay cash or pay into cryptocurrency wallets.”

Students targeted as money mules

Gardaí have also warned that organised criminal groups are targeting students through social media, messaging services and fraudulent job advertisements in an effort to recruit them as money mules.

A money mule allows criminal proceeds to be transferred through their bank account, sometimes in return for cash or expensive gifts.

The account holder may not understand the origin of the money, but can still face prosecution for money laundering.

Most identified money mule accounts belong to people aged between 18 and 24, although children as young as 14 have become involved, according to the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland’s FraudSMART initiative.

Figures published by FraudSMART last September showed that almost €9.4 million had been laundered through money mule accounts between June 2024 and June 2025.

Detective Inspector Govern said young people should not believe promises that they can make money without consequences.

“You are getting into bed with serious organised crime,” he said.

“You may be oblivious to the fact the money going into your account is the proceeds of crime, but you are still culpable in the eyes of the law.”

He urged students never to provide another person with access to their bank account, PIN or online banking details and never to transfer money on behalf of an online contact or acquaintance they do not know and trust.

Allowing a bank account to be used for criminal proceeds can result in a conviction, damaged credit history and difficulties obtaining loans, employment or travel visas. Money laundering offences can also carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Niamh Davenport, head of financial crime at the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, said criminals deliberately target young adults with apparently easy ways to make money.

“What may appear to be a quick way to earn cash can have serious financial and legal consequences, with the potential to affect a person’s banking relationships and financial future for years to come,” she said.

Anyone who believes they have been defrauded or approached to act as a money mule should contact their bank and report the incident to their local Garda station.