Persons living abroad and looking to rent in Dublin are reportedly being targeted.
People on the lookout for rental accommodation in Dublin have been advised to be wary of an email scam targeting people living abroad and looking to rent in the capital.
The City Council (DCC) and An Garda Síochána (AGS) are warning prospective private renters in Dublin that they have been notified of an email scam, purporting to require a down payment of a sum of money to DCC, to secure a tenancy in various residential properties in Dublin City.
The DCC have been alerted to three incidents to date and believe that persons living abroad and looking to rent in Dublin are currently being targeted.
The DCC and An Garda Síochána are encouraging the public to be vigilant and rather than respond to the scam, they should report it immediately to An Garda Síochána. DCC wishes to emphasise that it has no involvement whatsoever in private lettings.
The following, featuring a bogus name (Alfred Marshall) and bogus email address (“Dublin City Council Dublin City Council” [email protected]) is an example of the email scam being used to extort money from unsuspecting persons.
Further engagement with this bogus email address requires the would-be tenant to sign a “Residential Tenancy Agreement” and pay a “Security Deposit”. The scam is purporting that private lettings are contingent on a rubber-stamping by Dublin City Council (It should also be noted that no section called “Notarization and Endorsement Section” exists in DCC):
From: “Dublin City Council Dublin City Council” <[email protected]>
Date: September 9, 2016 at 10:57:01 AM CDT
To: “Recipient”
Cc: “Recipient”
Subject: Re: FEEDBACK on case File #: TNA83028
Dear Landlord, Tenant and Co-tenant (sponsor),
As a feedback to your case file number TNA83028 in respect of residential lease agreement between the two parties stated herein for a bedroom with separate bath and toilet situated at Apartment XX, Address. After critical review of the agreement by the council executives they have come to conclusion that the tenant is eligible to take up the apartment but certain obligations must be meet before final handling-over of the property could take place.
The landlord must remit 5% of the first month rent deposit to the city council account nothing later than 10th day of September, 2016 and 2% of monthly rent on every month rent the landlord will be receiving from the tenant which will serves as council dues (Tax).
The tenant being an international tenant and most especially from a region experiencing insurgency of recent; the equivalent amount of two months’ rent must be deposit to the council account by or before 10th day of September, 2016, this will serves as a city security deposit which will be refund back to the tenant not later than October 10th, 2016and this will enable the tenant to ger his/her PPS process on due time. (The city council security deposit is different from the housing/property security deposit, note this.)
Note, all the above stated conditions must be met by all parties involved in this agreement before this agreement could be consider finalize, endorse and notarize by the city council. This is compulsory because this property falls under Dublin Council Home Ownership Scheme and the council stands as principal manager of the whole buildings because the building is consider as one of Dublin heritage centres.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions on any issue that is unclear to you and I will take my time to answer them in details.
Thank you and have great day!
Alfred Marshall
Senior officer
Dublin City Council
Housing and Residential Services Department
Notarization and Endorsement Section
Block 1, Floor 1
Civic Offices
Wood Quay
Dublin 8
Phone: +353 1 222 2222
An example of a bogus Tenancy Agreement can be found here.
Check out some very handy safety tips if you’re renting in Ireland here.
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