Fraudster stole €30,000 from friends’ accounts

GARDAÍ have expressed concern at the ease with which a fraudster stole more than €30,000 from more than 20 bank accounts by simply providing them with a date of birth and address.

It emerged yesterday that the fraudster allegedly made withdrawals from the accounts of friends and acquaintances at several banks around the country after pretending to be somebody else.

The man, who is understood to be in his 20s, voluntarily walked into a garda station in Co Cork on Tuesday and told detectives of his spree, which included withdrawals from banks as far apart as Dublin; Ardee, Co Louth; Thomastown, Co Kilkenny; and Bantry, Co Cork.