Gardaí are investigating a scam in which up to 30 people were conned out of an estimated €35,000 by a man letting an apartment.
The fully furnished apartment in Ballsbridge had been advertised on the letting website Daft.ie.
Several people attended an open viewing in the apartment on Good Friday and 30 different people paid over the deposit of €1,150 and a month's rent in advance.
They were all then given a set of keys. However, when some 15 couples tried to move in to their new home earlier this week the keys did not work.
The man who showed the apartment went by the name Mr Grogan and is described as 1.72m (5'8") in height, aged between 50 and 55 with greying hair.
A garda spokesperson said there would be a full investigation.
The director of Daft.ie, Brian Fallon, said the company is considering starting a bond authority scheme in which the tenant would pay the booking deposit directly to the company.
