Tourists duped into paying for free health cards

Irish tourists are being duped by fake websites into paying for free European health insurance cards — but gardaí are powerless to do anything about it.

Consumers’ Association of Ireland chief executive Dermot Jewell revealed that a legal loophole is preventing any action against the fraudsters after fresh calls were made for convictions over the issue.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, the consumer expert said since the European health insurance card system — which allows free cover across the EU for tourists — was introduced in Jun 2004, scam artists have repeatedly set up websites offering access to the service.