Gardaí warn students of accommodation scams and money mule risks ahead of college term

An Garda Síochána has flagged a spike in accommodation scams targeting students, with €400,000 lost so far this year. Three key red flags have been identified.

Accommodation fraud costs victims €400,000 as term begins

An Garda Síochána has issued a warning to third-level students about a surge in accommodation scams, as the Irish Times reports that the August-to-October window is consistently the "peak season" for such fraud.

Det Insp Alan Govern of the Garda National Crime Bureau said there had been "notable spikes" in reports during those months over the last two years. Up to the end of July this year, gardaí had received 230 reports of accommodation scams, with total losses to victims reaching €400,000.

The most prevalent scheme involves properties that either do not exist or are not available for rent. Victims are asked to pay a deposit or holding fee before any viewing takes place. Once payment is made, the offender cuts off all contact. In a variation of the scam, some victims arrive to collect a key only to find it does not work and another person is already occupying the property.

Gardaí noted that fraudulent listings have appeared on established platforms such as daft.ie and booking.com.

Three red flags to watch for

Govern outlined three warning signs students should heed. First, unrealistically low prices or pressure to pay quickly. Second, requests for payment in cash, cryptocurrency or through peer-to-peer transfer apps. Third, a landlord who refuses to show a prospective tenant around the property before any money changes hands.

Students are advised to research any advertised property independently, verify whether it is registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), and use the RTB to benchmark rents. Only recognised letting agencies or trusted, identifiable individuals should be dealt with. When searching online, students should check that the URL corresponds to a legitimate website and review the site's privacy and refund policies before proceeding. All payments should be made through traceable banking methods.

Money mule risk also flagged

Gardaí also warned students against being recruited as "money mules" by organised criminal networks. A money mule receives stolen funds or criminal proceeds into their bank account and transfers them onward. In the 12 months between June 2024 and June 2025, almost €9.4 million was laundered through such accounts.

Govern cautioned that the prospect of easy money could lead young people into serious legal jeopardy. "You may be oblivious to the fact the money going into your accounts is the proceeds of crime — but you are still culpable in the eyes of the law," he said.

Incident figures

There were 14 incidents of accommodation fraud involving students recorded in 2025 and 13 in 2024. Among other tenants, 305 cases were reported in 2025, compared with 296 in 2024. Holiday-let fraud rose sharply, from 38 cases in 2024 to 74 in 2025.

Source: Irish Times