Gardaí have issued a warning to the public about two highly sophisticated phone scams that have recently emerged. Fraudsters are using advanced techniques to trick victims into giving away personal and financial information. The scams have affected people across the country, leading to substantial losses. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these scams, how they work, and what you can do to protect yourself.
Donegal’s Gardaí are currently requesting that the public stay informed of two recent scams. The first scam pertains to a fraudulent call from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU Ireland) of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB), and the second boasts itself as being linked to the government’s Immigration Service Delivery. In the first scam, a seemingly legitimate mobile number contacts a person with an automatic voice claiming to be from Garda FIU alerting the individual to suspicious transactions on their bank account. The person is then asked to provide their personal bank details by responding with various numbers. A spokesperson for the Gardaí has declared that they do not contact people in this manner and are advising people to be cautious of these unsolicited and automated calls. In the second scam, the purported caller claims to be from the Immigration Service Delivery, and although the calls seem to be coming from the Immigration Service Delivery contact number, the Department is making it clear that the public will never be contacted concerning these matters by phone or SMS. The spokesperson urges the public not to engage with these callers, return calls to these numbers, or share personal information. The Gardaí are aware of these calls.
In conclusion, it is important to be vigilant and cautious when receiving unsolicited calls or messages, especially if they involve financial transactions or personal information. These two sophisticated phone scams uncovered by the Garda serve as a reminder that scammers are always finding new and creative ways to deceive people. It is crucial to stay informed about the latest scamming tactics and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. With our collective efforts, we can help prevent these scams from victimizing innocent individuals and keep our communities safe.
