Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21202Fraud (accommodation fraud) · Co. Longford

Gardaí warn of accommodation fraud after €2,400 lost

A woman in her early thirties paid €2,400 in two payments of €1,200 each in April 2023 to a bank account, believing it was a deposit on an apartment in the Athlone area of Co Westmeath that she found on booking.com. She reported the fraud to gardaí at Ballymahon on Tuesday 2 May 2023, and Longford gardaí are investigating; the apartment is believed to be at a false address and the advertisement has been taken down. No suspect has been identified and no arrest or charge has been reported. The latest development in the sources is the 8 May 2023 update, in which gardaí warned the public about accommodation fraud and enquiries remain ongoing.

  1. Reported8 May
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A woman in her early thirties was the victim of accommodation fraud.
  • She paid €1,200 on two occasions, totalling €2,400, to a bank account.
  • She believed she was paying a deposit on an apartment in the Athlone area of Co Westmeath.
Where
She found the apartment on booking.com, and it is believed to be at a false address.
When
  • The two payments were made during April 2023.
  • The victim reported the fraud to gardaí at Ballymahon on Tuesday 2 May 2023.
  • The first report was published on 3 May 2023 and updated on 8 May 2023.
Investigation
  • Gardaí in Longford are investigating a report of accommodation fraud.
  • The advertisement has been taken down and garda enquiries are ongoing.
  • No suspect has been identified and no arrest or charge has been reported in the sources.
Other details
  • Gardaí in Longford warned the public to be vigilant about accommodation fraud.
  • The article also gives general advice on accommodation scams.
7 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA woman in her early thirties reported the fraud to gardaí at Ballymahon. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe victim paid €1,200 twice in April 2023, totalling €2,400, to a bank account. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe victim believed she was paying a deposit on an apartment in the Athlone area of Co Westmeath. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereGardaí in Longford are investigating a report of accommodation fraud. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe victim reported the fraud on Tuesday 2 May 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe advertisement has been taken down and garda enquiries are ongoing. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe apartment was found on booking.com and is believed to be a false address. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 May2023
    Reportedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford gardaí issue warning over accommodation fraud as victim loses €2,400 to scammers

    First report of this accommodation fraud, with the victim's payments, the reporting date and the garda investigation. The article also gives general advice on accommodation scams.

    victim, early thirties, female