Gardai have warned the public to be on the lookout for a brand new "grandparent scam" fraudsters are using to steal money.
Scammers send a text message posing as a family member saying they need financial help or are in some sort of trouble that needs to be kept secret.
The person sending the text message will pretend to be:
• A family member (son/ daughter/ sibling/ grandchild) who has lost their phone and is making contact with a new phone number.
• They are usually based in a foreign jurisdiction.
• The fraudulent text will state they require urgent financial assistance, for example, to pay an urgent medical bill or fine.
The cunning scammer then convinces the victim to make a direct payment to the fraudster’s account.
Some scammers have also been known to have made contact using fake profiles on social media.
Gardai have issued some top tips on how to protect yourself from this type of scam:
• Do not volunteer information as fraudsters are known to ‘fish’ for facts which they then use to make themselves sound more credible.
• Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is.
• Verify the person’s identity – ask questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer; call a family member to verify if someone is operating under a different number even if you have been told to keep the story a secret.
• Do not send cash, gift cards or money transfers – once the fraudster receives the money, it’s gone.
• Trust your instincts.
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