Phone fraud up by almost 300% in first five months of 2025, says AIB

As a result, AIB is outlining the five most common scams fraudsters are carrying out to fool people into handing over access to their money from April to June 2025.

The level of vishing activity affecting AIB customers surged in the first five months of this year, rising by almost 300% compared to the same period last year. 

New data released by the lender on Friday shows a 6% increase in customers falling victim to smishing/vishing scams, which are typically phone calls that often follow after a customer responds to a fraudulent text message, based on the requirement to have new login details issued. 

Meanwhile, losses associated with customers compromising their login details is up 67%, the bank said. 

As a result, AIB is outlining the five most common scams fraudsters are carrying out to fool people into handing over access to their money from April to June 2025.

These are test message fraud, also known as SMS phishing, safe account scams, where fraudsters pose as bank officials who pretend the customers account has been compromised, investment scams, where perpetrators offer lucrative returns on fake investment activities, holiday scams, where fake travel websites are created by fraudsters, and purchase scams, whereby fraudulent websites and sellers try to steal customers' money while also compromising their financial information. 

“We want customers to be alert, check the advice on our AIB security centre, and to take a moment to ask yourself, could this be a scam?" says Mary McHale, AIB Head of Financial Crime.

"We are continuously investing to enhance our fraud monitoring systems in response to new and existing fraud trends. 

"We also work closely with industry stakeholders including telecommunications companies, the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI), and the Gardaí to detect and report fraud trends, as it’s only by communicating and coordinating across the whole of society that together we can be effective in combating these criminals.”

To ensure safety from scams, AIB is urging customers to stay informed, verify sources, protect personal information, use strong passwords and to be sceptical of unusual requests.