Protect Your Money.
Know the Scams.
Financial fraud can happen to anyone, at any time. This guide covers the most common scams in Ireland — what to look out for, and how to stay safe.
Common Financial Frauds in Ireland
Identified by FraudSMART.ie and An Garda Síochána as the most prevalent scams affecting Irish people today.
Criminals call you pretending to be your bank, Gardaí, Revenue, or a tech company. They create urgency to get you to reveal PINs, passwords, or transfer money to a “safe account.”
- Caller claims to be from your bank or Garda
- Urgent request to move money to a “safe account”
- Asks for full PIN, password, or card number
- Pressure to act immediately without telling anyone
Hang up and call your bank back using the number on their official website. Your bank or Gardaí will NEVER ask for your PIN or to move money.
Fake texts from banks, An Post, Revenue, or delivery companies include a link to a convincing fake website designed to steal your card or login details.
- Unexpected text asking you to verify account details
- Link in the message does not match the real website
- Claims your parcel is held or your account is frozen
Never click links in unexpected texts. Go directly to the official website by typing the address yourself. Forward suspicious texts to 50500 (Irish banks’ shared number).
Fraudulent emails that look like they’re from real organisations — banks, Revenue, utilities. Clicking links or attachments can install malware or lead to fake sites that harvest your details.
- Email sender address doesn’t match the real domain
- Requests personal, financial, or security information
- “Too good to be true” prizes or lottery wins
- Unusual urgency or threats of account closure
Don’t open unsolicited emails or attachments. Verify independently — never use contact details given in the suspect email.
Fake investment opportunities — often in crypto, forex, or shares — promise very high returns with little risk. Victims can lose their entire savings. Often advertised on social media using celebrity endorsements.
- Guaranteed or unusually high returns promised
- Celebrity endorsement in a social media ad
- Pressure to invest quickly before “missing out”
- Firm not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland
Always check the Central Bank of Ireland’s register. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Never invest under pressure.
Criminals create fake profiles on dating sites or social media, build a relationship over weeks or months, then ask for money — for emergencies, travel, or business. Many victims transfer tens of thousands of euros.
- Person refuses to video call or meet in person
- Claims to be abroad (military, offshore work)
- Asks for money after building emotional connection
- Story doesn’t add up or grammar seems unusual
Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person. Do a reverse image search on their profile photo. Report to Gardaí — they treat all reports in confidence.
Stolen or counterfeit cards used for purchases or ATM withdrawals. Card details can be skimmed at ATMs or payment terminals, or stolen via fake online shops or data breaches.
- Unfamiliar transactions on your bank statement
- ATM looks tampered with or has unusual attachments
- Card was out of your sight during a payment
Always cover your PIN. Check statements regularly. Report unusual transactions to your bank immediately. Never share your PIN with anyone.
A fraudster emails a business pretending to be a supplier, requesting a change to bank account details. The next legitimate payment goes directly to the criminal. Often not discovered until the real supplier follows up.
- Email requesting change of bank account details
- Slight variation in email address or domain name
- Unusual urgency to update payment details
Always phone the supplier on a known number to verify any change. Never use contact details given in the email itself. Two-person authorisation for large payments is best practice.
An employee receives an email appearing to come from their CEO or senior manager, directing them to urgently transfer a large sum of money for a “confidential deal.” The fraudulent email insists on secrecy.
- Urgent request from a “senior manager” to transfer funds
- Insistence on secrecy — “don’t tell anyone”
- Email comes from a slightly different address
- No normal verification process is followed
Always call the CEO/manager directly on a known number to verify. Empower staff to question unusual requests. Implement dual-authorisation for large transfers.
Advance fee scams ask you to pay money upfront to release a prize, inheritance, or business deal that doesn’t exist. Money mule scams trick people (often via job ads) into receiving and forwarding criminal funds — which is a serious crime.
- Asked to pay a fee to release a prize or inheritance
- Job ad asking you to receive and forward money
- “Work from home” opportunity involving bank transfers
- Lottery win announced for a draw you never entered
You cannot win a lottery you didn’t enter. Never use your bank account to receive and transfer money for others — it is money laundering and a criminal offence.
🛡 The MoneyWhizz Golden Rules
Simple principles that protect you from the vast majority of scams.
Stop & Think
Scammers create urgency. Real organisations give you time. Always pause before acting.
Never Share PINs
Your bank, Gardaí, and Revenue will NEVER ask for your PIN, password, or to transfer money.
Verify Independently
Call back using a number from the official website — not one given in the call, text, or email.
If It Sounds Too Good…
Guaranteed high returns, prize wins, and urgent inheritances are almost always scams.
Report It
Report to your bank and local Garda station. Your report can prevent others from being scammed.
What To Do If You’re Targeted
Act quickly — early reporting can sometimes recover funds.
🚨 If Money Has Been Taken
Act immediately. Every minute counts when stopping a fraudulent transfer.
- Call your bank immediately — ask to freeze the transfer
- Report to your local Garda station
- Garda Emergency: 999 / 112
- Garda Confidential: 1800 666 111
🔍 Useful Resources
Verify, report, and stay up to date using these trusted Irish sources.
- fraudsmart.ie — scam alerts & checker
- garda.ie/fraud — report & fraud info
- centralbank.ie — verify regulated firms
- moneywhizz.org — financial wellbeing tools
