Customers conned out of €8k in new direct debit scam

Victims are persuaded into transferring their money to a so-called ‘safe account’ in order to protect it

FraudSMART said that victims are asked to open their banking app or desktop account while on a call, set up a new payee or ‘safe account’ using an IBAN provided by the fraudster and transfer their money into this new account, which the fraudster controls.

Customers are being conned out of between €6,000 and €8,000 in a new ‘direct debit’ scam which convinces victims that their bank account has been hacked.

Victims are then persuaded into transferring money to a so-called ‘safe account’ in order to protect it, according to the fraud awareness initiative, FraudSMART.