Scams

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Credit card on fishing hook pulled from stack on keyboard
Scammers increasingly targeting Irish workers nearing retirement 
A rise in complex investment scams highlights the need for consumers to protect themselves from frauds, writes John Hearne

Fri, 16 Feb, 2024

Woman fleeced out of €450k among 245 victims of dating scams
Woman fleeced out of €450k among 245 victims of dating scams
After matching online, the culprits quickly encourage their victim to move to a messaging app or email

Wed, 14 Feb, 2024

Mortality rates
Scammers targeting mourners who live-stream funerals
If you are uncertain about the legitimacy of a livestream, it is best to contact the relevant funeral director to verify before logging in

Wed, 31 Jan, 2024

Micheál Martin takes legal action against Google over use of his name in scam adverts
Micheál Martin takes legal action against Google over use of his name in scam adverts
Micheál Martin launched the High Court proceedings on Tuesday against both Google Ireland LTD and Google LLC.

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Take Five To Stop Fraud campaign
Revenue and DPD warn Black Friday shoppers about scammers targeting sales
This weekend will be one of the busiest shopping weekends of the entire year

Tue, 21 Nov, 2023

Christmas online shopping study
Reports of investment fraud up 77% as criminals exploit cost-of-living crisis
On average, almost 70% of victims of investment fraud are aged over 40. Just under two-thirds (65%) are men.

Wed, 15 Nov, 2023

Man watching TV, lying on sofa, legs on table
Campaign highlights cybersecurity risks of streaming content illegally
The BeStreamWise campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks associated with piracy when accessing film, TV series or sport through illegal platforms, links and devices

Wed, 15 Nov, 2023

Beautiful Caucasian Female Using Smartphone in Stylish Living Room while Resting on a Cozy Couch Sofa. Young Woman at Home, Brow
S Easy ways to stay savvy when shopping online this festive season
Distance buying carries a large cautionary sticker if you don’t know your push notifications from your IBAN

Sun, 12 Nov, 2023

Online payment
Students face fraud through money mule and rental scams
All consumers, particularly students, are urged to be vigilant to the risks of being recruited as a money mule, writes John Hearne

Thu, 02 Nov, 2023

Police Stock
Chinese student in Northern Ireland scammed out of £200,000
The PSNI received two similar reports last year of scammers who had targeted Chinese students studying in Belfast.

Tue, 03 Oct, 2023

Tenancy Agreement
Student conned out of thousands when he awoke to find 12 people moving into his apartment
Threshold, the Irish Council for International Students and the Union of Students Ireland are raising awareness of rental scams

Wed, 16 Aug, 2023

34 arrested in Ireland as part of Interpol operation targeting West African crime syndicate
34 arrested in Ireland as part of Interpol operation targeting West African crime syndicate
The arrests  took place in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Dublin, Meath, Kildare, and Longford

Thu, 10 Aug, 2023

close up employee man hand holding smartphone to checking alert from mailbox with warning sign for email spam security and prote
Scam texts and calls costing mobile phone customers €300m a year, research shows
Telecoms regulator ComReg said it was working with telecoms operators to implement safeguards to make it harder for fraudulent calls and texts to be sent to customers

Tue, 01 Aug, 2023

close up employee man hand holding smartphone to checking alert from mailbox with warning sign for email spam security and prote
Increase in number of people falling victim to 'Hi Mum' text messaging scams
'Hi Mum' smishing scams have become more prevalent during the summer months, when family members are more likely to be away from home

Fri, 28 Jul, 2023

How to avoid ticketing scams ahead of Taylor Swift ticket release
How to avoid ticketing scams ahead of Taylor Swift ticket release
The Anti-Hero singer will be gracing the stage at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29, 2024 as well as Sunday, June 30

Thu, 20 Jul, 2023

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard logos on smartphone and tablet. Microsoft announced that they are planning to purchase Activis
Microsoft eyes move to get €61bn video games deal done
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are considering giving up some control of their cloud-gaming business in the UK as a way to appease regulators so they can complete their $69bn (€61bn) merger by the July 18 deadline, according to people familiar ...

Thu, 13 Jul, 2023

Truck Fuel Protest
Consumer: Beware fraudulent eFlow messages
It is easy to be caught out by the latest scam where fraudsters target motorists, writes John Hearne

Thu, 13 Jul, 2023

Close Up Of Person With Addiction To Online Gambling Or Shopping Using Credit Card And Mobile Phone
ComReg research shows there were 365,000 scam texts and calls last year
The research indicates that during 2022, there were up to 89 million annoying or irritating communications and 31 million distressing communications

Fri, 16 Jun, 2023

Public urged to be vigilant of motorway toll text message scam
Public urged to be vigilant of motorway toll text message scam
The messages vary in content, but always include and embedded hyperlink to a cloned website, which appears to be authentic

Thu, 06 Apr, 2023

Banks warn of rise in 'highly convincing' investment scams targeting over-55s
Banks warn of rise in 'highly convincing' investment scams targeting over-55s
FraudSMART said one red flag to watch for is receiving an unexpected telephone call, e-mail or social media message about an investment opportunity

Fri, 10 Mar, 2023

Buying with smart phone
Scammers targeting households in receipt of Government energy supports
The Government is providing energy supports for households. The scammers are trying to take advantage writes John Hearne

Thu, 09 Mar, 2023

Person with a hoody typing at a computer in the dark. Suspicious online behavior
Three-quarters of Irish consumers targeted by online fraudsters this year
Ahead of November sales, Visa urges people to be alert to scams, and to protect themselves while shopping.

Thu, 17 Nov, 2022

Gardaí warn Cork homeowners to be aware of 'painting scams' 
Gardaí warn Cork homeowners to be aware of 'painting scams' 
In some cases, the operators take the money and don’t carry out the work, senior garda said

Thu, 06 Oct, 2022

Cyber gangs target small businesses for scams
Cyber gangs target small businesses for scams
Departments 'working together' to protect energy and internet cables

Tue, 04 Oct, 2022

close up employee man hand holding smartphone to checking alert from mailbox with warning sign for email spam security and prote
Scam victims conned into paying an average of €1,700 to fraudsters
The Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland says that the number of smishing scams it has been notified of so far this year is almost double the amount seen during the first six months of 2021

Wed, 10 Aug, 2022

Gardaí issue warning over elaborate bank and 'hi mum' text messaging scams
Gardaí issue warning over elaborate bank and 'hi mum' text messaging scams
The number of text and Whataspp message scams being reported to gardaí has increased significantly in recent years

Thu, 04 Aug, 2022

Technology Stock
Customers warned to be 'extra vigilant' due to new wave of scam texts
The bank has seen the number of ‘smishing’ cases detected by its Fraud Prevention team increase by around 50% since the introduction of this tactic.

Thu, 14 Jul, 2022

PSNI stock
International students in Northern Ireland swindled out of more than €122,500
Police said it is working with Queen’s and Ulster University to raise awareness of criminals targeting students.

Mon, 09 May, 2022

close up employee man hand holding smartphone to checking alert from mailbox with warning sign for email spam security and prote
Scammers steal €22.5m from Irish victims as account takeover fraud rises 552%
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau has urged people to be wary of any unsolicited phone calls, emails, and texts and not to click on any links

Fri, 01 Apr, 2022

Bitcoin as a bait. Blockchain cryptocurrency trap. Free money concept. Bitcoin on the hook. Copy space
Bitconned: Hook, line and sinker
More and more women are being swindled out of their money without lifting their head from the same screen on which they watch popular Netflix series ‘The Tinder Swindler’, but they are not alone, investment fraud has risen dramatically during the pandemic, writes Ann Murphy

Tue, 22 Feb, 2022

What we learn from Anna Delvey: Scams are all the rage for Generation Hustle
What we learn from Anna Delvey: Scams are all the rage for Generation Hustle
A wave of TV shows such as Inventing Anna are sympathetic portrayals of the con artist that lies within us all

Thu, 17 Feb, 2022

Stolen Credit Cards
Gardaí report 370% rise in text, call, and email scams 
So-called phishing, smishing and vishing scams have seen a dramatic increase in recent years

Fri, 04 Feb, 2022

Businessman using a computer to Blockchain technology concept with a chain of encrypted blocks to secure cryptocurrencies and bi
Woman in her 60s arrested over €1m cryptocurrency scam
Gardaí believe money provided to the woman for the purposes of 'an investment' was transferred to virtual asset service providers and then converted into cryptocurrency

Thu, 03 Feb, 2022

Phone call from unknown number late at night. Scam, fraud or phishing with smartphone concept. Prank caller, scammer or stranger
Industry lobbying led to creation of task force to tackle scam calls
The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) last year reported a 15-fold increase in reports of phishing and smishing

Thu, 27 Jan, 2022

Technology Stock - Social Media
Public warned against clicking on fake booster test links 
HSE will never seek payment for booster vaccinations, authority says

Fri, 19 Nov, 2021

Social media stock
WhatsApp launches scam messages awareness campaign
More than half (59%) of people have received a message-based scam in the last year or know someone who has.

Fri, 12 Nov, 2021

Cork woman describes 'anguish' of having €10,000 stolen from account
Cork woman describes 'anguish' of having €10,000 stolen from account
She got the money back in the end, but didn't want anyone else to go through the "anguish" she had

Tue, 19 Oct, 2021

Phone call from unknown number late at night. Scam, fraud or phishing with smartphone concept. Prank caller, scammer or stranger
Scam victims conned out of €5,300 on average as fraud increases
Almost 70% of consumers have been targeted by some form of impersonation scam

Thu, 07 Oct, 2021

Phone call from unknown number late at night. Scam, fraud or phishing with smartphone concept. Prank caller, scammer or stranger
Irish Examiner View: Are mobile phones the enemy within?
Already faced with fraud and phishing scams, the latest revelations about Pegasus spy software dent public confidence even further

Tue, 20 Jul, 2021

empty wallet
Con artists pocket almost €500k in romance fraud scams
People have been warned to be wary of potential romance fraud scams after 30 cases were reported last year. 

Fri, 12 Feb, 2021

Online shopping
Buying online in a post Brexit world is a tricky business
Learn who you’re buying from, where they’re based, and what additional charges may apply

Tue, 09 Feb, 2021

Scammers turn level 5 crisis into an opportunity
Scammers turn level 5 crisis into an opportunity
Unscrupulous operators will always find a way to exploit fears and steal money, writes John Hearne

Thu, 28 Jan, 2021

4,000 TV boxes among items seized by gardaí in operation targeting counterfeit goods
4,000 TV boxes among items seized by gardaí in operation targeting counterfeit goods
4,200 website selling copyrighted materials across the EU and beyond were identified as part of the investigation

Fri, 25 Sep, 2020

Scam risks
'Huge increase' in sophisticated texting scams aimed at banking customers
Gardaí have warned of a "huge increase" in the number of texting scams targeting bank customers. Some have lost thousands of euro after their accounts were targeted by criminals.

Fri, 11 Sep, 2020

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Mick Clifford
Mick Clifford

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