Spike in digs fraud as students return to college
An Garda Síochána has warned of a sharp rise in accommodation fraud, with reported cases surging by 22% in the first half of 2025.
As thousands of students get third-level CAO offers, gardaí are urging vigilance when securing college housing.
So far this year, approximately 160 cases of accommodation fraud have been recorded, amounting to €385,000 in reported losses — already two-thirds of the total losses recorded in all of 2024 (€617,000).
Data from 2024 highlights that one in three fraud cases occurs between August and September, with students under 25 making up 34% of victims.
Overall, 66% of victims are under 33, and 54% are male.
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) is warning of common scams where fraudsters:
- Claim to be overseas and demand a deposit upfront,
- Show the same property to multiple victims and collect several deposits,
- Offer fake listings for non-existent or already-occupied properties.
Reservation fraud
Reservation fraud, where victims pay for hotel or guesthouse rooms that turn out to be fake or already booked, is also increasing.
Gardaí advise the public to be wary of deals that seem “too good to be true,” especially if communication is limited to WhatsApp or social media.
Red flags include urgent payment requests, poor-quality listings, landlords unwilling to meet in person, or requests for untraceable payment methods such as cash, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers to foreign bank accounts.
Students are urged to:
- Use trusted letting agents or college accommodation services,
- Never pay before viewing a property,
- Use traceable payment methods like credit cards,
- Verify property listings, landlord details, and local rent prices,
- Report suspicious activity immediately to gardaí and financial institutions.