Kildare student president warns of accomodation scams

IMAGINE, being just 25 years old and being responsible for a population nearly the size Newbridge.

Well, that is the case of Kildare town native Mark Dunne who, as President of the Student’s Union for the South East Technological University (SETU), is responsible for the well-being of 18,000 students across three campuses.

Mark is now into his second year in the full-time job, having been re-elected last March, and he came to the attention of the Kildare Nationalist after he emailed us to warn about the accommodation scams which tend to proliferate around the end of August.

“Unfortunately, when you get to the end of August and term about to start, you start to see the accommodation scams,” he said.

“Usually, it is overseas student, but it’s not exclusive, and even Irish students have been coned out of handing over money,” he said.

“It’s not good to see, but it happens,” he said.

“The scams are targeted primarily at international students, but also parents can be scammed when seeking accommodation.

“Fortunately, around the country student unions are beginning to raise awareness with the USI [Union of Students in Ireland] and Threshold [the housing charity], and we’re beginning to get through,” he said.

“To avoid being scammed, firstly physically view the property where possible, don’t just jump on Skype.

“Second, make sure the keys you’re given fit the lock, and make sure there is a proper contract.

“If it’s all written in block capitals, it’s probably dodgy.

“Also when transferring funds, make sure it’s a secure transaction, so that if in the case you are scammed, you can trace the account.

“The month down, month in advance is kind of what we’re looking at,” he said in reference to the most popular method of scam.

“Sadly, people are handing over a €1,000 and that’s never seen again.

“Inspect the property in advance, use an electronic fund transfer [EFT], and make sure it’s an Irish bank account you’re paying into, and check for an Irish IBAN on Revolut.

“Satisfy yourself the property is legitimate, and trust your instincts. If it seems too god to be true, it probably is,” he said.

Mark is a past pupil of Athy Community College, doing the Leaving Certificate in 2017, before taking law at IT Carlow, before entering student politics after he graduated in 2021.

In the long-term Mark would hope to go to Blackhall Place to train as a solicitor, but in the meantime would like to work as a legal executive.

“It’s not quite a solicitor, but you’re still doing all the paperwork,” he smiled.

For the time being Mark works across all three campuses, spending two days a week in Carlow, two days a week in Waterford, and one day in Wexford.