Gardaí issue Longford and nationwide appeal over smishing fraud

Gardaí through the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) have been contacted by numerous banks and financial institutions who are experiencing very high levels of smishing (text message) fraud.

Rather than placing links within the fraudulent text, fraudsters are issuing phone numbers for customers to ring in order to resolve an alleged issue with the customer's account.

When customers then ring the number, automated music and voice messages mimic the bank in question making the experience very convincing. When an agent answers the phone, they scam customers into divulging their banking and security credentials.

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• An Garda Síochána is advising customers to be extra vigilant and they have alerted the public that the fraudulent text messages can often appear within a previous, genuine thread

• Gardaí have stated the texts contain phone numbers to call which are not the genuine bank numbers, typically posing as the Fraud Department

• Officers have also advised that if you receive a text to call your bank, please check to see if the number is a genuine bank number. This can be verified on the bank's website.

• Gardaí have said to remember, financial institutions will never ask you to hand over security details over the phone

Investigating officers have stated if you have responded to a text message that you believe is fraudulent, contact your bank as soon as possible.

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There are numerous smishing scams in operation purporting to be from banks, delivery companies and couriers, utility providers and government agencies.

An Garda Síochána is reminding the public to always be wary of texts from unknown senders, and unusual requests that can even appear in the thread of previous genuine texts.

• Never ever click on links in a text, never ring a number contained in a text and never ever give away your personal data (e.g., bank details, PIN numbers, passwords, one time codes, PPS number, Eircode, etc)

• Gardaí have urged members of the public not to transfer any money

• If the caller purports to be a son or daughter seeking money, hang up and try and make contact with your child or their friends

• Gardaí have advised to be wary of cold calls – always ask the caller their name and for their phone number. If you have any concerns just hang up and ring your bank/service provider using the number on your bill/statement – just because it looks like an Irish number doesn’t mean it is

• Gardaí have advised never download any apps that give fraudsters control of your device

• If you are offered a job in a cold call, be suspicious and ask yourself why me? and why does my new employer need access to my bank account?

• If you have been a victim, change your passwords and PIN codes, report it to your bank as soon as possible and ask them to do a recall.

An Garda Síochána have advised members of the public to report any suspected incidents of fraud directly to An Garda Síochána.