Limerick gardai advise students how to avoid accommodation fraud

GARDAI in Limerick have offered advice to students on how to protect themselves from accommodation fraud. 

Sergeant Ber Leetch, Crime Prevention Officer at Henry Street garda station said that a number of students have already been tricked out of money in their desperation to find accommodation. 

Sergeant Leetch told students to look out for the following when trying to find somewhere to live: 

- The rent seems too good to be true.

- The advertisement contains grammar or spelling mistakes and is on social media.

- All communication is only via WhatsApp or social media.

- The property owner says they are away and cannot meet you to show you the accommodation.

- Payment is requested in cash or by wire transfer, iTunes gift cards or cryptocurrency.

- The account to pay into is in a different country.

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Sergeant Leetch also offered advice to students for when they are arranging accommodation. 

"Only use recognised letting agencies but websites can be cloned too so check the URL to ensure it is a real website.

"Check the IBAN of the property owner’s account on https://www.iban.com/iban-checker to make sure it is not in a different country.

"Make sure the property exists by visiting the property, do not go alone. Make sure the person you meet has the right to rent the property, ask questions and disengage immediately if any responses are vague.

"Check if the property owner is registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. Only transfer payment through credit card". 

Sergeant Leetch also encouraged people to report accommodation fraud.