Irish students arriving in New York are being duped into spending unnecessary money when looking for an apartment. Flyers posted in the Irish neighborhoods of Queens and the Bronx, where Irish students normally flock to, advertise thousands of apartments without broker’s fees and without a credit standard.

The number people are asked to dial is: 718-655-8297. When callers dial this number, they are charged a 20 cent per minute fee to listen to a three-minute message that introduces the New York City Apartment Rental Service. There are no apartment listings at that number. Callers are then asked to dial 540-3733 with their area code first. Once connected, callers hear a fast-talking gentleman tell them their call will cost $28.20. The Irish Voice called the number to find that callers are not told clearly that they are being charged for the call.

After the fast-talking gentleman speaks for a few seconds, they are asked to press “one” to hear a list of apartments. Because the recorded voice speaks so quickly, it is very difficult for callers to hear that they can hang up after a few seconds to avoid the charge. The call lasts less than one minute.

The New York City Apartment Rental Service could not be contacted for comment on this story.

The automated message says that the apartments are available at that time, but it also states that they may not be available when callers actually go to see the apartment. The list is only addresses; there is no telephone number or contact information for any of the landlords. The recording says the list is updated daily.

Siobhan Dennehy, executive director of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center of New York, vowed to fight the scam once someone who had been charged the fee brought a telephone bill to their offices. “I think it is outrageous that a company would try to take advantage of people looking for an apartment. We could fight it once someone presents us with a company name. That name would be on their telephone bill,” she told the Voice by telephone on Tuesday.

A Verizon spokesperson contacted by the Voice said that their policy is to investigate complaints on phone billing to screen out unreliable or untrustworthy business entities.

At the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, the telephone operator told the Voice that a special inspection service had been requested for the New York City Apartment Rental Service.