Gardaí warn of increase in scams targeting students
Gardaí have issued a warning to students who are expecting their CAO offers to be on the lookout for scams that could target them.
Over 7,800 students from Cork received their Leaving Cert results last Friday. They were part of the 70,411 students nationwide, a 7.6% increase compared to last year, and the highest number on record.
The post-Leaving Certificate period sees an annual spike in accommodation fraud. Up to 31 July 2026, there were 230 reports of rental and reservation scams across the country, with total reported losses estimated at above €400,000.
Gardaí have issued advice to students on what to be on the lookout for.
They said that scammers may claim to be a landlord who is out of the country and demands an upfront deposit before keys or physical access can be provided.
Alternatively, the fraudster may pose as an occupant or as a fake agent of the landlord, who will show the property to multiple prospective tenants. They will take deposits off all tenants and then disappear.
The transaction may also appear legitimate until such time as the tenant arrives at the property to find that the keys they were given don’t work, the property is already occupied, or the landlord has vanished.
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,” he said.
Money mules
The GNECB also warned of “money mule” scams. These involve someone receiving stolen money or the proceeds of crime into their bank accounts and moving it to another account, often in exchange for money or an expensive gift.
Money mules are recruited by criminals and organised criminal groups (OCGs) and are generally people who are in financial difficulty.
Gardaí said that the majority of accounts used as money mules belong to people between the ages of 18 and 24, with some as low as 14.
Allowing a bank account to be used to launder money is a criminal offence whether the account owner is aware of the source of the money or not.Niamh Davenport of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland said: "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.
“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," she said.