Gangs target Covid payments: Man arrested for 70 fake PUP applications worth €165k

A Garda statement said a warning was issued to the public last June in relation to a phishing email purporting to be from the Courts Service.

Gardaí suspect there are other cases of gangs defrauding the State of Covid unemployment payments after arresting a key target in Cork.

The suspect, a west African national, is suspected of stealing over €165,000 from the State through more than 70 fake pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) applications.