Fraudsters are professional impersonators, they are sending text messages every day pretending to be your bank, An Post, parcel delivery service, HSE and even your utility company. The texts look very convincing and may require urgent action which is intended to make you act without thinking
With two retail banks leaving the Irish market and as thousands of people prepare to move bank accounts, fraudsters will seek to take advantage of changing situations to commit fraud. FraudSMART members are anticipating a rise in impersonation fraud attempts which will be based around the process of verifying and updating bank account details. So be on high alert in the coming weeks and months to fake text messages, emails or calls pretending to come from trusted organisations such as your bank, utility company, streaming service, mobile provider or even your employers HR Department.
In particular be on alert for texts from your bank. Fraudsters will use this account transition period to obtain personal information through the guise of a problem with a customer’s new account set-up or switch. We are warning consumers to be on the lookout for text messages that flag fraud on your bank account or impending cancelation of your salary, standing orders, or direct debits to utilities and which then go on to ask for personal information or account details. We are aware that fraudsters have recently started to follow up these texts with a phone call from a number that appears to be your bank.
Key advice for consumers re impersonation scams
- Do not respond to messages with personal information.
- Do not click on links or follow directions from somebody on a call without verifying first.
- A bank will never text/email/phone looking for personal information.
- Contact your bank/service provider/employer provider directly.
- Never use contact details from a text message, always independently verify.
- Always double check before clicking links or attachments in random or unexpected emails or texts and never give away security details such as PINs or passwords to anyone.
Telephone: +353 1 671 5311 − W: www.bpfi.ie
