Students advised to watch out for scams

The national housing charity Threshold has joined forces with the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) and the Union of Students Ireland (USI) to raise awareness of rental scams ahead of the new academic year, next month. The Scamwatch campaign launches as thousands of students begin searching for accommodation across Ireland.

Each year, hundreds of students are targeted by false “landlords” and scammers seeking to con them out of their savings by offering accommodation units and properties, that they either purport to be renting, or don’t exist. Last year, one student who fell victim to a complex scam was Levi Amarilo.

Levi and his partner spent all of their money on the €6,000 required for the deposit and month’s rent for a property which turned out to be a scam. 

Common Scams

False websites are increasingly common platform for scams, as well as websites that appear as replicas of real letting platforms such as Daft.ie and Airbnb. Students should also watch out for fake accounts posing as landlords offering accommodation on social media websites such as Facebook.

New campaign 

The new campaign highlights the “dos and don’ts” for students and provides them with contact information for Threshold, ICOS and USI where they can request advice about their rights as private renters and safeguards, they should take to avoid scams. See www.threshold.ie/faq/how-to- spot-a-scam/ for more information.

John-Mark McCafferty, CEO of Threshold stated: “To avoid rental scams, it is key that renters take precautions, such as requesting a written agreement of rental terms and conditions and using a secure payment method - and not cash in hand - after the contract has been signed and witnessed in the presence of the other party. Never rush headlong into anything – scammers do apply pressure, which is one of the telltale signs. We strongly encourage any student or renter who is unsure if they are being scammed to contact our advisors for free advice and support.”

Laura Harmon, Executive Director of the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) commented on the campaign launch, stating: “A study that ICOS carried out last year involving almost 500 international students found that nearly one-in-seven (14%) said that they had been a victim of an accommodation scam while in Ireland, of whom a quarter were English language students.

The Dos & Don’ts of Rental Scams

Threshold has provided an extensive list of advice containing ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for students to consider when organising accommodation for their academic year. The housing charity, alongside ICOS and the USI recommends a number of key actions that students can take to prevent falling into a scam:

Do inspect the property in person. Whenever possible, visit the property and the landlord in person before making any payments. Avoid only relying on online photos or virtual tours.
Do ask for a contract by requesting a written contract (also known as a license or tenancy agreement) that clearly explains the terms and conditions of the rental agreement, including rent amount, deposit and any additional fees.
Do seek advice and consult with student support services and unions, accommodation offices, student councils or housing experts like Threshold if you have doubts or concerns about a rental offer.
The organisations also urge students and renters to take precautions against scams and avoid doing the following when agreeing to accommodation:

Don't share personal information online and be cautious about sharing personal information on public platforms, especially social media, where scammers often try to find potential victims.
Don't ignore red lags. Pay attention to red flags (suspicious situations), like exceptionally low rent, a landlord living abroad, foreign bank account details or inconsistent information.
Don't use unsecured payment methods and refrain from using unsecured payment methods like wire transfers or cryptocurrency for rental transactions. Bank transfers are the preferred method to pay your deposit and rent, as they are more secure and leave a trace.

Threshold, ICOS and the USI all strongly encourage any students to contact their services for support if they fear that they are being scammed for accommodation or have recently fallen into a scam.

Threshold’s helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am- 9pm at 1800 454 454, with webchat at www.threshold.ie/get-help/ for any renter in need of advice or support.

For information and advice for students moving to Ireland to study, visit www.internationalstudents.ie/ info-and-advice, or contact the ICOS on +353 1 660 5233.

For student support and advice, visit www.usi.ie,or contact the USI (01) 7099 300.