A dangerous new banking scam is making rounds across Ireland, with victims losing up to €8,000 to clever fraudsters who pose as bank officials, banking authorities warned today.
The scam starts with a simple text message claiming to be from your bank about a new direct debit on your account. But here’s the catch – if you call the number in the text, you’re actually speaking to a scammer, not your bank.
“This is a very recent scam, and we’re already seeing cases rise,” says Niamh Davenport from Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). “People are losing between €6,000 and €8,000 on average.”
The fraudsters use a cunning trick: they convince victims their money isn’t safe and needs to be moved to a “safe account.” While on the phone, they guide people through setting up a new payee and transferring their money – which actually goes straight to the scammer’s account.
To make it seem more legitimate, the scammers even send follow-up texts with fake reference numbers and transfer confirmations. This clever touch helps delay victims from realizing they’ve been scammed.
“These fraudsters are highly skilled at gaining people’s trust,” Davenport warns. “Anyone could fall for it if they’re not careful.”
The key message from banks is crystal clear: they will never ask you to move your money to a “safe account” or send you texts with phone numbers to call.
If you receive a suspicious text about your bank account, experts say you should ignore it and contact your bank directly using the number on the back of your bank card. If you think you’ve fallen victim to this scam, contact both your bank and the gardaí immediately.
According to The Journal, FraudSMART is urging the public to be extra cautious of unexpected texts or calls claiming to be from their bank, as this new scam continues to target Irish consumers.