OVER 230 reports of rental and reservations scams, with total reported losses in excess of €400,000, have been reported to An Garda Síochána.

Students are being warned about fraud ahead of the issuing of CAO offers as student seek to secure college accommodation during the months of August through to October. Students are also being warned against being lured into acting as 'money mules.'

The warnings, issued by Det Ins Alan Govern of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, come as thousands of students celebrate the Leaving Certificate results and await third-level CAO offers this week.

Crime figures for the first seven months of 2026 already reveal over 230 reports of rental and reservations scams, with total reported losses of more than €400,000.

'This comes ahead of the seasonal peak – historically August and October – as returning and first-time students scramble to find housing,' Det Ins Alan Govern stated.

Rental scams generally fall into three distinct categories during the high-pressure college search season. The first issue to watch out for is the absent landlord.

Here, the scammer could claim to be out of the country and demands an upfront deposit before keys or physical access can be provided.

The second red flag is the fake host and mass showing. In this scenario the garda spokesperson said the fraudster poses as occupant or fake agent, showing the property to multiple prospective tenants. The scam here is to collect deposits from all of them and then disappear.

The third scam is known as the key failure. On the surface, the transaction appears entirely legitimate until the tenant arrives with their belongings only to discover the keys do not work, that the property is already occupied, or the landlord has vanished.

Highlighting the need for vigilance during the high-pressure college search, the detective inspector 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,' he said. '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.'

Some more critical warning signs to watch out for include unrealistically low prices: if a room or apartment costs significantly less than others in the same area, it is almost certainly a trick.

Some scammers will try to panic students into paying quickly by claiming it's a 'once-in-a-lifetime offer' or demanding money immediately before they have even signed a lease.

Be wary too of unusual or untraceable payment systems. The detective inspector warned people to be suspicious if they ask for payment in cash, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or through peer-to-peer transfer apps where the payee cannot get his or her money back.

If the 'landlord' always has an excuse for why  a student can’t do an in-person walkthrough or meet face-to-face, then the advice is to walk away.

Potential renters are advised to 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.

Det Insp Govern said: '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.

Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, said that while  people of any age can be targeted by money mule recruiters, young adults remain a key target for organised crime groups seeking to exploit them.

She said: 'Criminals often use social media; messaging apps and seemingly legitimate job offers to lure people with promises of easy money. What may appear to be a quick way to earn cash can have serious financial and legal consequences, with the potential to affect a person's banking relationships and financial future for years to come.'

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.