Renters urged to watch out for fake property advertisements.
People looking to rent property are being warned to watch out for fake advertisements. A number of advertisements have appeared recently from a fraudulent landlord asking potential tenants to send cash to an address in the United Kingdom. The advertisements appeared in newspapers and on the property website daft.ie over the past week.
The fake landlord is claiming to be based in the UK but renting a property in Dublin.
Daft.ie have issued a warning to renters.
Please cut off all contact with this person and do not send them any money. If you have already sent money please contact your bank and cancel the payment.
Detective Superintendent Eugene Gallagher of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, says that these can be very lucrative scams. There are a number of cases before the courts. In one, almost €30,000 was defrauded in a short period of time.
Another scam is where a deposit is taken but a clause is attached saying that if your references are not up to scratch, then your deposit will be returned minus a checking fee. The checking fee can cost up to €100.
Margaret McCormack of the Irish Property Owners Association has some advice for prospective tenants. Before handing over a deposit, the tenant should meet the landlord at the property, get the keys, and sign the contract and the PRTB form.
Check that the keys actually work in the door.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 24 July 2008. The reporter is Sharon Tobin.
