AS THE housing crisis rages on, with many young people lamenting the fact that they may never own their own house due to rising property costs, a Limerick Garda Sergeant has warned of scammers looking to target people harbouring ambitions to purchase a home.
That’s according to Crime Prevention Officer at Henry Street Garda Station, Sergeant Ber Leetch, who described an ongoing accommodation scam which some people in Limerick have fallen victim to.
Sergeant Leetch said that “scammers know that people are desperate to find a home and some want to buy a home”, explaining that those looking to exploit would-be homeowners “set up companies online offering loans and mortgages”.
The Henry Street Crime Prevention Officer said that while these companies appear genuine, they have spelled disaster for some in Limerick.
“A woman reported to Garda in Patrickswell that she had applied for an online loan from a company called Temple Money Ireland. She found this company online. Once she made contact, she was asked to pay €300 upfront to guarantee the loan,” Sergeant Leetch said.
“Once she settled this payment, she was asked to pay a further payment of €150 to cover taxes on the loan. She paid this. She was then informed that somebody would contact her to discuss the loan but to date nobody has contacted her.”
Warning those in the market for a new home to keep their wits about them, Sergeant Leetch warned: “Do not apply for an online loan unless you have visited the central bank website and checked the central bank register. This will provide a list of unauthorised firms and, incidentally, ‘Temple Money’ is on the list since August 2023.”
“There is also a list of authorised firms but do not check this register through a link provided by a company, go directly to the central bank website yourself,” Sergeant Leetch advised.
