Sinn Féin president and TD Mary Lou McDonald has warned others she received a scam call today.
Taking to social media, Mary Lou said she received a call from a woman alleging to be from AIB bank.
The scammer said: “We haven’t been in touch for a while, just wanted to go over your details.”
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The Sinn Féin leader said the scammer had an Irish accent, and she told her “to get lost.”
Mary Lou then tried to report the scam call to AIB, with no luck and proclaimed, 'it would be easier to get through to the pentagon.
Reacting to the scammer, Mary Lou tweeted: "Just got a scam call from a woman (Irish accent) purporting to be from @AIBIreland - the pitch 'we haven't been in touch for a while just wanted to go over your details' Told her to get lost. Tried phoning @AIBIreland to report it would be easier to get through to the Pentagon."
Some of Mary Lou’s followers took the comment section to share their thoughts.
One said: “I got a text from AIB saying they were putting my card on hold...that was nice of them considering I'm not with AIB.”
While another said: “Probably easier to contact the woman involved in the scam”
AIB's website says these type of scams are call 'Vishing scams'.
The bank's website reads: "Theses scams are when an individual calls you claiming to be from the Bank, or a company providing a service and request financial and/or personal and security information."
"This type of scam is referred to as 'Vishing', which is a combination of ‘voice’ and phishing. It is typically used to steal credit / debit card numbers or to gain access to your Internet Banking."
The bank adds: "If you suspect any fraudulent activity from any call you receive, you should end the call and verify the identity of the caller using a known number."
Some of the scams currently in circulation are where customers have received fraudulent calls claiming to:
- Assist them with claiming a tax rebate
- Be a law enforcement official asking them to assist with preventing a crime
- Be a Utility Company: e.g. Telephone/Mobile phone provider, Broadband provider, Software company offering to “fix” PC or broadband problems.
- That you have unauthorised transactions on your Card or Account
- To process a refund or cancel a subscription
The bank warns that AIB have been notified of another Phone Scam currently targeting their customers.
Reports received to the Bank indicate that:
Fraudulent calls have been targeting customers trying to persuade them that their AIB Credit / Debit Card have been compromised
These scams will usually request a transfer of funds or disclosure of card/account details.
If you suspect that a call may be fraudulent, hang up and call the AIB Card Services Team on : 01 6685500.
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