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20th Dec 2016

Gardaí Are Warning Against This WhatsApp Renting Scam

Alana Laverty

An Garda Síochána are warning house hunters of a scam involving WhatsApp and rental sites, like Daft.ie.

According to Independent.ie, Daft.ie have reported a number of incidents involving a gang who are taking advantage of people in search of rented accommodation online. The gang managed to gain access to adverts on Daft and alter them in an attempt to extort money from house hunters.

Interested parties are specifically told not to email landlords but to call instead using the foreign phone numbers provided.

Daft.ie have said it is removing  these numbers from its site and had been liaising with Gardaí and WhatsApp to resolve the issue.

Signs to watch out for include foreign-based landlords, strange phone numbers and poorly written adverts.

The rental market is so tight right now and these scam artists are using that to their advantage.

Take caution…

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