Shocking Dublin rental scam sees Scottish man forced to give up job and move home
Brian and Ciarán shed light on a scheme that left them both financially devastated and without homes
Two rental scam victims have shared their harrowing experiences while trying to find a home in Dublin, being conned out of thousands, with one even having to move back to Scotland due to the losses he incurred.
Brian and Ciarán both shared their stories on RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline with Joe Duffy, shedding light on the fraudulent scheme that left them both financially devastated and without homes.
Brian, an Irish mental health nurse who has been searching for suitable housing for approximately six months, recounted his encounter with the scam. Using Daft, Brian found an apartment in Dublin 7. He told Joe that he believed the listing appeared legitimate, and communication with the purported landlord and tenant did not raise any initial suspicions.
"I went to view the flat on a Sunday evening," he explained. "The person acting as the tenant had everything set up – cooking in the kitchen, the place looked lived in. There was a family photo on the landlord's WhatsApp profile." The convincing setup included a detailed backstory from the supposed tenant, who claimed to be a law student and a care assistant in a Dublin hospital. "So all the boxes were sort of checked in my head," he said.
After the viewing, Brian was informed via email that he had been selected for the apartment. He transferred €1,740 as a deposit and first month’s rent, only to be met with silence thereafter. "By Thursday morning, I couldn’t contact either the tenant or the landlord. It became clear I had been scammed," he said.
Ciarán, a victim originally from Scotland experienced an identical scam at the same residence. Also searching for a place in Smithfield, he viewed the apartment alongside other prospective renters. "I was told I got the place, sent over my wage slips, and transferred the money," he said.
"I was supposed to move in on Wednesday, couldn't get an answer on any phone or the door," Ciarán shared. The €1,740 scam left him no choice but to move back to Scotland, having lost both his deposit and then his job in Dublin as he could not afford another rental.
Both victims reported the incidents to the Gardaí, where they coincidentally met and realized they had been scammed by the same people. It was said on Liveline that the Gardaí have noted similarities to previous scams but have not provided particular information about them.