The sentencing of a man to 21 months for the new offence – which was enacted into law a year ago – comes as gardai reveal they are investigating 35 such incidents.

“In the region of 75% of all card fraud occurs online, so serious caution is required when purchasing goods or services,” she said.

People are being warned of an upsurge in scams in the run-up to Christmas.

Gardaí are warning sex workers about a roaming gang of men who are booking as individual clients but turning up in a group and violently robbing them of their earnings and valuables.

Specialist gardaí managed to locate the transaction and get the money returned before it was gone for good.

The bureau has also seen a massive rise in the value of new asset seizure cases in the High Court, set to approach €100 million in 2019, compared to €8.2m in 2018.

Three men aged in their 20s, 40s and 50s were arrested after gardaí stopped two cars in the Artane area and seized a gun.

A high-level Irish-British police operation has hit a massive drug-smuggling operation involving a “major Turkish supplier”, Ireland’s biggest heroin trafficking gang, and a Dublin man known in celebrity circles.

Investigations are ongoing, nationally and internationally.

Gardaí have issued a warning about a text message scam that is designed to gain access to personal bank accounts.

Gardaí are warning the public about a text scam which aims to gain access to someone's personal bank accounts.

It was the prosecution's case that DNA evidence linked Darren Weldon to a number plate found in the debris of a car bomb which exploded outside Newry courthouse on February 22, 2010.

Garda bosses say the “unprecedented” number of gangland convictions in the courts in the last fortnight highlights the “unrelenting” approach of State agencies to tackling organised crime.

Real IRA leader who plotted an explosion during the State visit of Britain’s Prince Charles in 2015 has died in prison.

More gardaí may come under the scrutiny of an internal probe into alleged corruption following the dramatic arrest of three members, including a high-ranking officer.

The Criminal Assets Bureau seized 10 vehicles, four Rolex watches and more than €30,000 in cash in a series of early morning raids targeting a Cork-based organised crime gang.

Police in the North have concluded that 619 people were in the queue or car park on the night of the crush at a disco in Cookstown.

The PSNI is refusing to apologise for arresting the owner of a Cookstown hotel on suspicion of possessing drugs with the intent to supply.

Two men, one aged 52 and the second in his 40s, are still being questioned by police in the North after three teenagers died outside a St.Patrick's night disco in Co. Tyrone.

PSNI detectives investigating the deaths of three teenagers at a Co Tyrone disco have arrested two men on suspicion of manslaughter.

Police and prosecutors made the pledge in an effort to get more teenagers to come forward to speak to officers about the tragedy.

The Policing Authority is due to hold a special public meeting next week to discuss concerns regarding Garda failures to prosecute serious juvenile offenders.

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has almost 1,000 targets who, it believes, are benefiting from the proceeds of crimes including drug trafficking and burglaries.

Half of Irish businesses were victims of economic crime in the past two years, with cybercrime hitting record levels and doubling global levels.

“After 30 years, it’s time to tell us what you know.”

Laois GAA have issued a statement to disassociate themselves from a tweet sent by one of the county's star footballers after the conclusion of the rugby rape trial.

Increased Garda investment against cybercrime will see the introduction of dedicated regional units within the next two years, a conference on cybersecurity has heard.

The head of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has said that raids on nearly 40 homes and businesses “marks a significant development” in its investigation into the notorious Kinahan crime cartel.

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is conducting 14 investigations in Cork city and county, targeting drug dealers, gangs of burglars, and those involved in organised prostitution.

Police hunting for a man suspected of murdering a neighbour in a crossbow attack have found a body.

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is urging people to report any suspicious activity in their community.

Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi may have stored items used to assemble the device in a Nissan Micra, police in England have said.

Ariana Grande has visited young fans injured in the Manchester terror attack in hospital.

Salman Abedi bought most of the key component parts of the suicide bomb he detonated in the Manchester Arena terror attack, police said.

Three men arrested in England in connection with the Manchester terror attack have been released without charge.

A convicted sex offender who raped and strangled a nurse in England before setting fire to her house has been given a whole life sentence.

A photo of a squalid shipping container where a kidnapped cattle dealer was held hostage as a criminal gang demanded a €400,000 ransom has been revealed by police in the North.

Gardaí, as part of a joint Garda and PSNI operation investigating the murder of prison officer David Black, have arrested two men in Co. Donegal.

Detectives investigating the shooting of dissident republican Peter Butterly have denied that offers to drop a murder charge were made to an accused man who turned prosecution witness before he gave a statement about the case.

Fianna Fáil says it is “inexcusable” that top-level Garda positions are left vacant, and urged the Justice Minister and the Policing Authority to fill them promptly.

Police in Scotland have said they have received reports of historic child abuse within football.

Police in the North are fighting more than 100 organised crime gangs, MLAs have heard.

The Government yesterday appointed eleven senior officers in a bid to fill “critical vacancies” in the Garda Síochána.