Local students are being warned to watch out for accommodation fraud in the build up to the new academic year. Gardaí say one third of all scams of this nature occur during August to September each year. They also say that 34% of the victims of accommodation fraud are under 25, and 66% of victims are under 33.
Signs of a potential rental scam include a landlord who claims to be out of the country, so can't meet the renter in person and the request for a deposit payment before a viewing. Sergeant Orla McGrath who works with the Leitrim Community Policing Unit, has this advice for people looking for accommodation:
Advertisement
