Students currently scrambling for any available college accommodation are being warned to be careful of rental scams.
This time of year is particularly lucrative for fraudsters, or so-called 'Phantom' landlords who prey on students looking for accommodation.
The “Meet and Greet Deposit Scam” works by inviting potential tenants to view a place. If they like it, the fraudster will then take a deposit, but when their victim tries to move in, the locks have been changed and the phantom landlord is gone.
Some people have also been caught out by transferring deposits online to a bogus account.
Gardai are advising people to only hand deposits directly to landlords, and not to be afraid to ask for ID.
Prospective tenants should always use cheques or bank cheques, and contact your local Garda station if you’re in anyway suspicious.
