Back-to-college period sees sharp rise in rental scams in Limerick

LIMERICK gardai are warning of a big rise in rental scams following CAO offers being made to Leaving Cert students as they search for accommodation.

“Every year, we see a significant spike in reports of rental fraud from August through to October. That’s the period when students — particularly those just starting college — are under pressure to find somewhere to live quickly,” said Sergeant Michelle O’Halloran, Crime Prevention Officer at Henry Street Garda Station.

“Fraudsters know this and take advantage. In fact, about one third of all rental fraud reports occur during this back-to-college window. Already this year, in the first six months of 2025, reports are up 22% compared to the same period last year, with losses totalling to €385,000, compared with €617,000 for the full year of 2024.”

Sgt O'Halloran added that there are a few common scams. “In some cases, the fraudster claims to be out of the country and say they can’t show you the property unless you pay a deposit first. In others, they’ll actually show the property to several different people, collect deposits from each, and then vanish.”

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The local crime prevention officer explained that they also see cases where the property doesn’t exist at all, or it exists but is already occupied — and when the renter turns up, the keys don’t work and the so-called landlord has disappeared.

Another thing for people to look out for is reservation fraud. “That’s where someone books and pays for a hotel room or guesthouse online, only to arrive and find that the property doesn’t exist or that the staff have no record of the booking,” said Sgt O'Halloran.

She advised students and renters to look out for the warning signs: “If the rent seems too good, be extremely cautious— especially in cities where demand is high. If the ad only appears on social media, or if the person insists on communicating only through WhatsApp or Messenger, that’s suspicious. A sense of urgency — for example, “pay now, or it’ll be gone” — is another tactic.”

“Our records from last year show that 34% of victims are under 25, and 66% are under 33. About 54% of victims are male and 46% female, so it affects everyone.”

Sgt O'Halloran offered the following advice to help people to protect themselves. “The main thing is to do your research. Only use recognised letting agencies or landlords recommended through official college channels or student unions.”

“Always view the property in person before paying anything. Check that it’s registered with the Residential Tenancies Board — you can do that online. Compare the asking rent with the RTB rent index to see if it matches average prices in the area. Ask for the exact address and check it on Google Maps, and even do a reverse image search of the posted image to see if they appear anywhere else on the internet.”

The crime prevention officer also warned people never to pay cash or send money via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers like Western Union. “Those payments can’t be traced or reversed. Ideally, use a credit card — that way you have consumer protections.”