Irish phone holders have had to be extra wary in recent months with the onslaught of fraudsters sending messages to people across the country.
A recent scam that was detected by the banks saw the culprits manage to infiltrate their messages into an existing thread of legitimate texts from the likes of AIB and Bank of Ireland.
There have been many warnings issued by officials over the tell-tale signs to look out for.
From being asked for an immediate payment, your PPS number or bank details like your pin and access codes for online banking, there are many warning signs that indicated you have been targeted by these scams.
With the festive season in full swing, more and more reports of people falling victim to these messages are coming to light.
So, here is the latest advice for spotting fake messages ahead of the Christmas break.
AIB
AIB issued a warning on their website saying: "Fraudsters are targeting customers like you by sending text messages claiming to be AIB and/or other legitimate companies.
"These messages request you to click a link to review or block a fraudulent transaction on your account or advise that you are locked out of your account. You may also be asked to input codes from your Card Reader or divulge a One Time Passcode (OTP)."
Their guide to avoiding fake AIB texts includes:
- NEVER disclose your Registration Number or Personal Access Code (PAC) or card information after clicking a link on a text.
- NEVER generate codes from your AIB Card Reader when they are requested by a text message.
- NEVER divulge your One Time Passcode (OTP) for Card transactions.
- NEVER post your card to an address that is provided to you in a text message.
BOI
Meanwhile, Bank of Ireland’s consistent message to customers is to maintain a ‘zero trust’ policy – never trust, and always verify.
- Do not click on links or disclose personal information including one-time passcodes or your full Banking 365 PIN.
- Forward any suspicious emails or texts to them at 365Security@boi.com
- If anyone is concerned that their account has been compromised, they should call the Bank of Ireland 24/7 freephone line 1800 946 764.
