Rental scams targeting Irish students: Gardaí warn of €400k in losses

Gardaí have issued warnings to students about rental scams and 'money mule' schemes ahead of CAO round one offers. Over 230 scam reports filed in 2025.

Gardaí put students on alert for rental fraud and money mule schemes ahead of CAO offers

Gardaí have warned students seeking accommodation to be on guard against rental scams, TheJournal.ie reports, as CAO round one offers are released this week and thousands of new college-goers begin searching for housing.

More than 230 reports of rental or reservation fraud were filed in the first seven months of this year, with total reported losses exceeding €400,000.

Red flags in rental listings

Students are advised to treat any unusually low rent price as a potential warning sign. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) rent index should be used to benchmark what typical asking prices look like in the area around their college.

Before handing over any money, students should confirm that the property is registered with the RTB and request official photo identification from the landlord. Viewing the property in person before making any payment is essential, Gardaí said.

When a payment must be made, it should go through a credit card or a secure, traceable banking method where consumer protections apply. Cash, cryptocurrency, and peer-to-peer payment apps should be avoided entirely.

An additional step recommended by Gardaí is to run a reverse image search on any property photographs found online. This can reveal whether the images have been lifted from legitimate advertisements and repurposed in a fraudulent listing.

'Money mule' targeting on social media

Alongside accommodation fraud, Gardaí have issued a separate warning about organised criminal networks recruiting students as so-called money mules.

The scheme works by convincing a student to receive stolen funds or criminal proceeds into their bank account and then transfer the money elsewhere, typically in exchange for cash or a high-value gift. Criminals are making contact with teenagers and young adults through social media platforms, targeting those in financial difficulty, building a relationship, and then requesting financial favours.

Gardaí stress that participating in this activity — even without full knowledge of where the money comes from — constitutes a criminal offence. The consequences can be severe: a permanently damaged credit rating, difficulties obtaining loans, future employment problems, visa refusals, and a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Source: TheJournal.ie