Gardai issue student fraud warning ahead of CAO offers
Crime figures for the first seven months of 2026 reveal over 230 reports of rental and reservations scams, with total reported losses standing at over €400,000. Pic: iStock.
As thousands of students celebrate Leaving Certificate results and await third-level CAO offers this week, An Garda Síochána has issued a nationwide warning regarding a sharp annual spike in accommodation fraud.
Crime figures for the first seven months of 2026 reveal over 230 reports of rental and reservations scams, with total reported losses standing at over €400,000. This comes ahead of the seasonal peak – historically August and October - as returning and first-time students scramble to find housing.
Rental scams generally fall into three distinct categories during the high-pressure college search season.
One of which is the 'Absent Landlord' where the scammer claims to be out of the country and demands an upfront deposit before keys or physical access can be provided.
Another scam involved a 'Fake Host/Mass Showing'. The fraudster poses as an occupant or fake agent, showing the property to multiple prospective tenants, collecting deposits from all of them, and disappearing.
The third category resolves around the 'Key Failure': The transaction appears entirely legitimate until the tenant arrives with their belongings only to discover the keys do not work, the property is already occupied, or the landlord has vanished.
Highlighting the need for vigilance during the high-pressure college search, Detective Inspector Alan Govern of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) strongly advised students and parents to stick strictly to verified channels: "Students should only use recognised letting agencies or deal with people who are bona fide and trusted. If searching online, always check the URL to ensure it is a real website and take note of the privacy and refund policy sections.
"Be very wary of social media advertisements or where a person letting the property will only communicate via Messenger or WhatsApp. You should push for direct answers; if responses are vague, disengage immediately.
"If you have decided to take up an offer, only use trusted money transfer systems - I would recommend using a credit card. Never transfer money directly, pay cash, or pay into cryptocurrency wallets."
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) advises students and parents to look out for critical warning signs:
• Unrealistically low prices: if a room or apartment costs significantly less than others in the same area, it is almost certainly a trick.
• They rush you: Scammers try to panic you into paying quickly by claiming it's a "once-in-a-lifetime offer" or demanding money immediately before you've even signed a lease.
• They want unusual or untraceable payment; be suspicious if they ask you to pay in cash, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or through peer-to-peer transfer apps where you cannot get your money back.
• They refuse to let you see the place: If the "landlord" always has an excuse for why you can’t do an in-person walkthrough or meet face-to-face, then walk away.
Advice for students seeking housing:
• Always physically view the accommodation and ensure keys fit by opening the locks before handing over any money.
• Pay using a credit card or secure, traceable banking methods where consumer protections apply. Never pay via cash, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer apps to strangers.
• Use the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) rent index to benchmark average asking prices in the local college area.
• Ask for official photo identification (such as a driver's licence or passport) and ensure the property is registered with the RTB.
• Reverse-image search property photos online to ensure they have not been stolen from other legitimate advertisements.
In addition to rental scams, An Garda Síochána is issuing a warning to students regarding organised criminal networks targeting college students with promises of "easy money" to act as money mules.
A money mule is someone who receives stolen money or proceeds of crime into their bank account and transfers it into another account, often in return for money or an expensive gift. The person can be - but are not always - aware they are involved in laundering illegally obtained money.
Criminals are increasingly using social media to target teenagers and young adults, or people in financial need via messaging or fake job ads. They build trust through online friendships before asking for financial favours, such as using their bank account to transfer money.
While people of any age are susceptible to becoming a money mule, the majority of money mule bank accounts belong to those aged between 18 and 24 years of age, with some cases involving children as young as 14, according to FraudSMART, a consumer and business fraud awareness initiative developed by the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) alongside major Irish banks.
FraudSMART figures published in September 2025 stated that almost €9.4 million had been laundered through money mule accounts in the 12 months from June 2024 - June 2025.
Addressing the risks, Detective Inspector Alan Govern of the GNECB warned: "The message Gardaí want to get across to young people is that there is no easy money to be made out there. Every single time a person loses money from their bank account, or a company loses money in a fraud, there must be a corresponding money mule to launder the money. You are getting into bed with serious organised crime. You may be oblivious to the fact the money going into your account is the proceeds of crime – but you are still culpable in the eyes of the law.
"Never allow anyone else access to your bank account, PIN, or online banking details, and never transfer money through your account for an acquaintance or online contact you do not personally know and trust.”
Allowing your bank account to be used to launder criminal proceeds is a serious criminal offence. Even if the person acts unwittingly, they are still committing money laundering and could be faced with a criminal conviction, a permanent ruined credit rating, difficulties securing loans, employment, or travel visas in the future and could face a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
If you believe you are a victim of fraud or have been approached to act as a money mule, immediately report the incident to your local Garda station and contact your bank.
