MORE than 230 rental and reservations scams have been reported to Limerick Gardaí this year, with tenants cheated out of almost half a million euros.
With in excess of €400,000 lost to scammers in the first seven months of the year, Gardaí are warning students and parents to be careful in the annual rush to get accommodation for college.
Said Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Michelle O’Halloran: “We traditionally see a marked increase between August and October as demand for student accommodation rises.”
Sergeant O’Halloran explained that there are “a number of common approaches. A scammer may pose as a landlord who is supposedly abroad and request a deposit before allowing the student to view the property.”
“We also see properties advertised to multiple prospective tenants, with deposits taken from each person. In other cases, everything can appear legitimate until the student arrives and discovers the accommodation isn’t available or the keys don’t work.”
The Sergeant advised that prospective tenants should be “particularly cautious where the price is significantly below the normal market rate, where you’re being pressured to make an immediate payment, or where the person refuses to allow you to view the property”.
“Unusual payment requests, such as cash or cryptocurrency, should also raise concerns.”
She is advising that tenants should view the accommodation in person and verify the identity of the person they are dealing with.
“Check the tenancy information and use the Residential Tenancy Board rent index to compare local rental prices. It’s also worthwhile reverse-image searching photographs used in an advertisement, as these can sometimes be taken from genuine listings.
“Where payment is required, use a secure and traceable method. Never transfer money to a stranger through cryptocurrency or other untraceable methods simply because you’re being placed under pressure.”
And finding a legitimate let is not the only pitfall some students face, with criminals targeting cash-strapped renters as money mules.
“A money mule is someone who allows their bank account to be used to receive and transfer money which has originated from criminal activity. Young people are increasingly being approached through social media, messaging platforms and fake employment opportunities, with promises of easy money,” Sergeant O’Halloran said.
“Never allow another person to use your bank account or ask you to transfer money on their behalf. If you’re being offered money simply for receiving or moving funds, that should immediately raise concerns. FraudSMART reported that almost €9.4million was laundered through money mule accounts in the 12 months to June 2025.”
