Gardaí are urging the public to remain vigilant in response to “very high” levels of text message scams, also known as ‘smishing’.
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) has reported a significant increase in fraudulent activity, with numerous banks and financial institutions raising concerns about this type of fraud.
Instead of including links within their fake texts, fraudsters are now providing phone numbers for recipients to call, claiming there is an issue with their bank account. This tactic adds a layer of deception, as it appears more credible to victims.
When customers call the provided number, they encounter automated music and voice prompts that convincingly mimic the bank’s real phone system. Once connected to an “agent”, victims are tricked into divulging sensitive banking and security information, allowing the fraudsters to access their accounts.
Gardaí warn that these fraudulent texts can appear within genuine text message threads, making them harder to detect. The messages may contain phone numbers that look legitimate but are not associated with the actual bank.
To safeguard against such scams, customers are advised to independently verify the phone number by consulting their bank’s official website. Banks will never request security details, such as passwords or PINs, over the phone, and any such requests should raise immediate suspicion.
If anyone believes they have responded to a fraudulent message, they should contact their bank immediately to secure their account.