As Ireland continues ,to struggle with a rental and housing crisis, Gardai have revealed that €500,000 was lost in rental scams last year.
Criminals took advantage of the struggle facing thousands of people by luring them into fake listings, often getting them to put down deposits on properties that didn't exist.
As part of Fraud Awareness Week, the Gardai are warning people to be extra vigilant when looking for accommodation, particularly now at a time when society and foreign travel has opened up again.
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There was a 30% increase in the amount of accommodation fraud reported in 2021.
Successful accommodation fraudsters convinced their targets, from the young to the middle-aged, to pay a deposit, and sometimes even rent in advance, for accommodation that either doesn’t exist or does exist but isn’t for rent leaving them stranded and out of pocket.
Over €516,000 was stolen in rental scams in the year, with almost half of the victims aged under 25 (58% of whom were female)
Speaking at a media briefing Detective Inspector Steven Meighan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau said:
"Now that society has reopened, there are many more opportunities for fraudsters.
"We would advise people to be extra vigilant to avoid becoming a target. In recent cases victims sent their money to accounts in Spain and the UK – always check the IBAN of the account you have been asked to send your money to; it’s usually a good indicator of fraud if the bank is in a different country.
"For longer-term rentals do a landlord check, make sure the landlord can show you the property and that you get an appropriate tenancy agreement. Trust your instincts and, like anything in life, if the offer sounds too good to be true then it probably is.”
Gardaí are advising members of the public who believe they are a victim of accommodation fraud to contact any Garda Station and report the crime.
Some tricks to watch out for include:
- All communication is only via WhatsApp or social media
- The landlord says they are away and can’t meet you to show you the accommodation
- Payment is requested immediately before signing a lease
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