Back to college means back to accommodation fraud increases in Limerick

GARDAÍ in Limerick are warning college students and their parents to be very wary of an accommodation situation that seems too good to be true. 

Crime prevention officer with Henry Street garda station, Sergeant Ber Leetch told Limerick Live that the need for accommodation rises in line with the return to college. 

“Scammers know this. They prey on the person that is desperate and may not be as careful in their online dealings as they usually are. 

“The scammers also introduce a sense of urgency in the hope that people looking for accommodation will make impulsive decisions,” she said. 

She added that there are certain red flags that people can be aware of. 

“The rent is too good to be true means that it is not true. The advertisements for the  accommodation are only through social media.

“The “owner” will only communicate remotely and will not meet in person. There is a sense of urgency i.e. this is a one time offer. Payment is demanded before viewing,” Sergeant Leetch said these are all things to look out for. 

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She added that meeting a potential house owner can also come with risks. 

“Ideally you should go through a reputable letting agency, the college, students union or word of mouth from a trusted friend. Always view the accommodation and ensure the person you meet has the right to rent it and that the keys open the locks. 

“Then when it comes to payment, credit cards are the safest form of payment but disengage immediately if the person asks for payment through cryptocurrency, asks you to wire the payment through Western Union or to pay in iTunes gift cards. All of this advice is available on www.garda.ie,” Sergeant Leetch said.