Immediate Help

I Think I've Been Scammed

Act quickly — the faster you respond, the better your chance of stopping or reversing a payment. Follow these steps in order.

Being scammed is not your fault. These criminals are professionally trained to deceive people. What matters now is acting fast.
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If you have just sent money or shared bank details — call your bank right now

Don't read this page first. Call the fraud number on the back of your bank card immediately. Every minute counts when trying to stop or reverse a payment.

What to Do — Step by Step

Follow these steps as quickly as possible. Do them in order.

1
Contact your bank immediately
Call the fraud number on the back of your card or on your bank's official website — not a number from the suspicious message. Ask them to freeze the transaction or flag your account. Most Irish banks have a 24/7 fraud line.

Find your bank's fraud number ↓
Important: If you authorised the payment yourself (e.g. you transferred money thinking it was legitimate), tell your bank exactly what happened. Under Irish banking rules, banks must consider reimbursement requests even for authorised payments if you were deceived.
2
Change your passwords now
If you entered any login details into a suspicious website or clicked a link, change your passwords immediately — starting with:

1. Your banking app or online banking
2. Your email account
3. Any accounts that use the same password

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on every account you can — especially your bank and email.
Tip: Your email is particularly important — if a scammer has access to your email, they can reset the passwords on all your other accounts.
3
Report it to An Garda Síochána
Report the scam at your local Garda station or online at garda.ie. In an emergency, call 999 or 112. Reporting creates an official record — this is important for any insurance or bank reimbursement claim, and helps Gardaí identify and pursue the criminals behind the scam.
Note: You may feel embarrassed, but Gardaí deal with fraud reports every day. There is nothing to be ashamed of.
4
Report the scam message itself
Suspicious texts: Forward to 50100 — free from most Irish networks, operated by ComReg. This gets the message investigated and the sending number blocked.

Phishing emails: Forward to your bank's fraud email address (found on their official website) and to the organisation being impersonated — e.g. An Post, Revenue, your bank.

Social media scams: Report the account or post directly on the platform. Use the report button on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or wherever you were contacted.
5
If your device was compromised
If you gave anyone remote access to your computer, clicked a suspicious link, or downloaded anything from a scammer:

1. Disconnect from the internet immediately
2. Run a reputable antivirus scan (Malwarebytes is free and reliable)
3. Do not use the device for banking until it has been checked
4. Consider a factory reset if you are concerned the device is compromised
5. Contact a local IT professional if you are unsure
Note: Legitimate tech support companies (Microsoft, Apple, your broadband provider) will never contact you unsolicited. If someone called you claiming to be from these companies, the call was a scam.
6
If you shared personal documents or ID
If you sent a copy of your passport, driving licence, PPS number, or other identity documents to a scammer, you are at risk of identity fraud. Take these steps:

1. Contact your bank and tell them your identity documents may have been compromised
2. Report to An Garda Síochána — identity theft is a criminal offence
3. Contact the Department of Social Protection if your PPS number was shared
4. Monitor your credit report for unusual activity — you can request a free report from the Central Credit Register at centralcreditregister.ie
7
Talk to someone
Fraud causes real emotional distress — shock, shame, anxiety, and anger are all completely normal reactions. You don't have to deal with this alone.

Talk to someone you trust — a family member, friend, or neighbour. Telling someone can help you feel less alone and they may be able to help you take the practical steps above.

CCPC helpline: 01 402 5555 — consumer rights and financial scam support
Age Action Ireland: 01 475 6989 — specific support for older adults who have been targeted
Remember: This was not your fault. These criminals are highly skilled professionals who do this every day. Reporting your experience also helps protect other people in Ireland from the same scam.

This was not your fault

Scammers are organised criminal operations. They invest heavily in making their messages, websites, and phone calls look completely convincing. They specifically target people who are busy, stressed, or who have been softened up over weeks of contact.

The fact that you were deceived says nothing about your intelligence or your judgment. It says something about how sophisticated and relentless these criminals are.

Reporting your experience to Gardaí and to ScamSafe helps protect other people in Ireland. Every report matters.

Key Numbers to Call

Keep these numbers handy — the sooner you call, the better.

Emergency
Gardaí, ambulance, fire brigade
999 / 112
Garda Fraud Line
Report non-emergency fraud
1800 666 111
garda.ie →
AIB / EBS
24/7 fraud line
1800 242 227
aib.ie/security-centre →
Bank of Ireland
24/7 fraud line
1800 946 764
bankofireland.com/security →
Permanent TSB
24/7 fraud line
+353 1 669 5851
permanenttsb.ie →
An Post Money
24/7 fraud line
1800 267 678
anpost.com/Money →
Revolut
Report fraud in-app
Profile → Help → Disputes
revolut.com →
Other / Credit Union
Use the number on the back of your card
Back of your card
Available 24/7 on most Irish banks
ComReg
Forward suspicious texts (free)
50100
comreg.ie →
CCPC Helpline
Consumer and financial scam support
01 402 5555
ccpc.ie →
Age Action Ireland
Support for older adults targeted by scams
01 475 6989
ageaction.ie →

Not sure if it was a scam?

If you still have the message, paste it into ScamSafe for an instant AI-powered verdict. Free, no account needed.

Check a message now
What Happens After You Report?

It's worth knowing what to expect after you've taken action.

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Your bank will investigate
Under Irish banking regulations and EU payment services rules, your bank must investigate your complaint. Keep a record of every call, email, and reference number. If you are unhappy with your bank's response, you can escalate to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) at fspo.ie.
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Recovery of funds is possible but not guaranteed
If you reported quickly and the money hasn't yet left the receiving bank, there is a chance of recovery. International transfers are harder to reverse. Be wary of anyone who contacts you claiming they can recover your money for a fee — this is almost always a follow-up scam targeting fraud victims.
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Scammers may contact you again
Once you have been identified as a target, your details may be shared among criminal networks. Be alert to follow-up contact — especially anyone claiming to be from the police, a recovery service, or a government agency who says they can help you get your money back. These are almost always follow-up scams. Report any such contact to Gardaí.
Learn to Spot Scams Earlier

The best protection against scams is knowing what to look for. Our Scam Tips page covers the 10 most common scams in Ireland right now.

Phishing texts & emails WhatsApp family scams Investment & crypto scams Fake Gardaí calls Romance scams Tech support scams