From smishing to fake websites: Here's how to spot a scam

With text message fraud becoming more commonplace, fraudsters show no sign of giving up in their campaign to part you with your money. Here’s how to stop them in their tracks, writes Niamh Hennessy

Recent research by telecoms regulator ComReg found that in 2022 alone in Ireland there were around 365,000 cases of fraud as a result of scam calls and texts. This is the same as 1,000 cases a day.

It’s hard to imagine that we now live in a world where people are afraid to answer their phones. This is a world where criminals can just call people and try to trick them out of their hard-earned money. It’s that easy for them.

We have long been warned to watch our handbags in busy cities or keep your valuables in a safe at home. However, like many others now, criminals can do their work from home from anywhere in the world which makes the task of protecting your money even more difficult in this world we now live in.