Threshold and students join in Scamwatch fight

e national housing charity reshold has joined forces with the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) and the Union of Students Ireland (USI) to raise awareness of rental scams ahead of the new academic year, next month.

e Scamwatch campaign launches as thousands of students begin searching for accommodation across Ireland.

Each year, hundreds of students are targeted by false “landlords” and scammers seeking to con them out of their savings by o ering accommodation units and properties, that they either purport to be renting, or don’t exist. e new campaign highlights the “dos and don’ts” for students and provides them with contact information for reshold, ICOS and USI where they can request advice about their rights as private renters and safeguards they should take to avoid scams. See www.threshold.ie/faq/how-to-spot-ascam/ for more information.

John-Mark McCa erty, CEO of reshold said: “ reshold is increasingly aware of a surge of rental scams, particularly ahead of the academic period, with students unfortunately being easy targets. In a highly competitive, low supply rental market, scams are on the rise. It’s important that students and all renters nationwide are aware of such scams and take the appropriate actions to prevent themselves from falling into these traps.

“To avoid rental scams, it is key that renters take precau- tions, such as requesting a written agreement of rental terms and conditions and using a secure payment method – and not cash in hand – after the contract has been signed and witnessed in the presence of the other party. Never rush headlong into anything – scammers do apply pressure, which is one of the telltale signs. We encourage any student or renter who is unsure if they are being scammed to contact our advisors for free advice support.”