THE DEPARTMENT OF Housing has issued a warning about scam text messages and online posts offering accommodation.

“The Department has been made aware that there are a number of online scams currently live purporting to be from ‘Housing for All’ or ‘Ireland’s Housing Plan’ and offering accommodation to members of the public,” it said in a statement today.

The Department has urged the public to be “extremely cautious”, to make sure they are using official government websites, and not to click on or reply to links that appear suspicious.

The Department said it does not directly engage with the public regarding accommodation provision “and never seeks personal details from members of the public”.

People who have received such messages are advised to bring them to the attention of An Garda Síochána.

“If any member of the public has engaged with such an entity online and has exchanged information, they should alert their bank or any other relevant organisation to advise that their data may be compromised,” the Department said, adding that it has raised the issue with the gardaí.