Accommodation fraud jumps 22% as gardai warn students of rental scams

Reports of accommodation fraud were up by 22% in the first six months of the year, as gardai warn students of rental scams.

It comes following Friday’s Leaving Certificate results and this week’s third-level CAO offers.

Gardai said that accommodation fraud typically peaks at this time of year, as returning and first-time students secure college housing.

In the first six months of 2025, reports of accommodation fraud were up by 22%, with approximately 160 cases recorded.

Reported losses totalled 385,000 euros, compared with 617,000 euros for the full year of 2024.

Last year, approximately one third of all accommodation fraud reports occured during August and September.

The return to college timeframe shows an annual spike in accommodation fraud.

Some 34% of victims of accommodation fraud are under 25, and 66% of victims are under 33-years-old.

Around 54% of victims of accommodation fraud are men and 46% are women.

Rental fraud happens when a victim pays money to rent accommodation, typically in the form of a deposit, and subsequently discovers that the transaction was fraudulent.

It also occurs when the fraudster claims to be out of the country and cannot show the renter the property unless they pay a deposit, which the victim pays and then loses.

It can also happen when the fraudster is living in the property and shows a number of people the property, gets a deposit from several people and then disappears with the money.

The transaction can appear normal until the renter finds that the property does not exist, is already occupied or the keys do not work and the landlord has disappeared.

Reservation fraud occurs when a person pays for a hotel/guesthouse room and subsequently discovers that the transaction was fraudulent.

The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) advises that there are a number of red flags.

They said that there is no such thing as cheap accommodation especially in urban areas and also warned of those advertised only through social media or if the person will only communicate via Messenger or WhatsApp.

Other warning signs include unsolicited contact or a pop-up advert; a sense sense of urgency like “a one-time offer”; the listing containing grammar or spelling mistakes and very limited details or pictures of the property.

Students have also been warned about where a landlord is unable to meet up to show the property in person; the property being offered with no questions asked and payment demanded immediately before signing the lease.

Students should do their own research on the advertisement and the property and only use recognised letting agencies or deal with people who are bona fide and trusted.

Renters should also be wary of cloned websites; know their consumer rights; only use trusted money transfer systems; never agree to rent a property without seeing it first and ensure keys work.

Gardai also said that, ideally, the property would be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).