How to Spot a Rental Scam on Daft.ie

24 July 2026

Why rental scams are surging in Ireland

Ireland's rental crisis has created the perfect environment for scams. With genuine listings receiving hundreds of enquiries within hours, desperate renters are more willing than ever to send a deposit before viewing. Scammers exploit exactly that pressure. Reports to An Garda Síochána of accommodation fraud have grown every year since 2020, and Daft.ie itself removes thousands of suspected fake listings annually.

This guide walks through the warning signs, the verification steps you should take before parting with any money, and what to do if you have already been scammed.

The five patterns behind almost every scam

1. The landlord is abroad

By far the most common variant. The "landlord" claims to be working in Nigeria, Dubai, or Northern Ireland, and cannot show the property in person. They offer to post the keys once you transfer a deposit. There is no property, or the property exists but is not theirs to let.

2. Rent that is 30 to 50 percent below market

Genuine listings priced well below the local average are extremely rare in a market this tight. A three-bed in Dublin 8 for €1,400 in 2026 is not a bargain; it is bait. Cross-check the asking rent against our county pages or the RTB Rent Index before you enquire.

3. Photos that reverse-image-search to another site

Scammers reuse photos from old listings, Airbnb, or property portals in other countries. Right-click any listing photo, choose "Search image with Google," and see whether the same room appears on other websites.

4. Pressure to pay a holding deposit before viewing

A legitimate landlord or agent will let you view first. If you are told you can only secure the property by sending money now, walk away. No exceptions.

5. Communications move off-platform fast

The scammer will push you from Daft messaging onto WhatsApp or personal email within one or two replies. This is deliberate: it removes Daft's ability to see the conversation and warn you.

Verification steps that take less than ten minutes

- Search the exact address on our SafeRent check tool to see if the tenancy is registered with the RTB. - Ask for the RTB registration number and confirm it against the public register. - Ask to view the property in person, ideally in daylight, with the landlord or a named letting agent present. - If a letting agent is involved, verify their PSRA licence number on the Property Services Regulatory Authority website. - Never send money by bank transfer, Revolut, or Western Union until after you have signed a lease and received keys.

What to do if you have already sent money

Move quickly. The first hour matters most.

- Contact your bank immediately and report the payment as fraud. Some transfers can still be recalled within a short window. - Change any passwords you shared with the "landlord." - Report the incident to An Garda Síochána at your local station. Ask for a PULSE number for your records. - Report the listing to Daft.ie or Facebook so it can be removed before it catches anyone else. - Consider reporting to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's scam alerts service.

The recovery rate for money sent to a foreign account by international transfer is unfortunately very low. The most valuable outcome of reporting is preventing the next victim.

The best defence is scepticism

If a listing feels too good, too fast, or too remote, it almost certainly is. Take the extra day to view in person, ask for the RTB number, and use SafeRent to check whether other tenants have reviewed the address. A property that has been rented by five past tenants and is registered with the RTB is a very different proposition to one that has appeared on Daft only twice.

Read next: our guide to checking a rental before you sign, or use the SafeRent address checker on any listing you are considering.