Gardai issue warning over sophisticated scam impersonating members of force
Gardaí warned the public that it is "very easy to have inadvertently or otherwise engaged with this scam"
by Cathal Ryan · Irish MirrorGardaí have issued a warning to the public over a sophisticated scam that sees fraudsters impersonating members of the force.
Authorities warned of the email-based scam/fraud where a person receives correspondence claiming to be from An Garda Síochána.
The correspondence states that the individual is currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings as traces of their "identification data" has been found in investigations related to child pornography and similar offences.
READ MORE: Dublin-based businessman accused of money laundering over €9.7 million 'zombie' iPhone scam
READ MORE: Cybersecurity expert warns of scams targeting Facebook and Instagram accounts
Issuing advice, Gardaí said they do not and will not make contact with a person under investigation in this way. To help avoid becoming a victim of fraud, Gardaí suggest:
- Don’t respond to any unsolicited email seeking personal, financial or security advice, never click on a link or attachment in an unsolicited email and if you believe the email is from a genuine source, verify this independent of the email sender.
- Gardaí also recommend people independently verify any requests for information and never use the contact details supplied to you in the fraudulent email.
A spokesperson said: “It is very easy to have inadvertently or otherwise engaged with this scam or another similar scam, and subsequently find yourself a victim of fraud - do not hesitate to drop into or call us in your local Garda Station so that we can help.”
Further guidance on fraud prevention head here.
Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.