Mayo students are advised by An Garda Síochána to pay close attention when booking accommodation this autumn.

A third of all accommodation fraud reports occur during August and September, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has said in a recent statement.

With the new college term quickly approaching and the hunt for student accommodation ramping up, the CCPC has issued a warning to be cautious of rental scams.

READ NEXT: Uninsured car with no working reverse gear seized on Mayo roads

As with previous years, a shortage of rental accommodation has left students under pressure to find a place to live, creating the perfect conditions for rental scams.

Last year, An Garda Síochána reported that about one third of all accommodation fraud reports occur during August and September, with 34% of victims aged under 25, and 66% aged under 33. It was also reported that 54% of those who experienced accommodation fraud were male, and 46% were female.

What are red flags?

A rental accommodation scam will usually try to trick students out of their money by pretending to offer them a property or room to rent. Scammers will generally advertise a rental property at a much lower price to draw in potential victims and will often offer a rental without any questions asked. Real landlords will typically want to verify references before considering renting to anyone.

Deputy Director of Financial Education at the CCPC, Muriel Dolan, warned:

“If the landlord claims to be out of town or living abroad and cannot show the property in person, this is a major red flag, and you should be very careful. They may request money to secure the room before any mention of a lease, such as a deposit and/or one month’s rent up front. You may even be sent a false contract to sign or fake keys to make it more convincing.

“Never agree to rent a property you haven’t seen in person. Always complete all relevant checks before payment and never ever pay cash or by Revolut. Instead, pay in a way that is traceable and refundable, and always test the locks to make sure the keys are genuine.”

How to protect yourself against rental scams:

• Make sure you research the advertised property. Use online maps to verify it exists and matches the photos that have been shared with you.
• Research the rent prices for similar prices in that area.
• View the property yourself in person before handing over any deposit or rent.
• Try out all the locks yourself with the keys you receive.
• Ask the landlord for a written lease or rent book before paying any money.
• Where possible, pay only by debit or credit card for a better chance to get your money back if something goes wrong.
• Get a proper receipt in writing for any payment you make.
• Keep all contact details for the landlord, agent or advertiser.
• Hold on to copies of any email/phone messages between you and the landlord/agent.
• Check the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to make sure the rental property you’re looking at is registered (unless the rental is owner-occupied, such as ‘digs’, in which case it does not need to be registered).

What happens if you get scammed?

If you fall victim to a scam, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to cancel your cards and secure your account. You may also be able to reverse the transaction through a chargeback from your card provider.

Additionally, report the incident to your local Garda station to help stop the scammer and save others from becoming victims.

READ NEXT: ‘Keep her in your hearts’ - family of kidnapped Mayo woman Gena Heraty