Ireland has the highest proportion of its population to have experienced phishing of any country in the world. Fraud offences surged 137% in 2025, and over 78% of Irish people were targeted by scammers last year. Knowing what to look out for is your best defence.
Click any scam type to learn more — what it looks like, the warning signs, and exactly what to do.
1
Phishing Texts and Emails (Smishing)
Very Common
Fraudsters send texts or emails pretending to be from trusted organisations — Revenue, An Post, your bank, or a utility company — to trick you into clicking a link and entering personal or financial details. Ireland has one of the highest smishing rates in the world.
Common examples in Ireland
An Post: "Your parcel is held. Pay €2.99 customs fee." — An Post does not text you for customs fees.
Revenue: "You are due a tax refund. Click here to claim." — Revenue never contacts you by text about refunds.
Your bank: "Unusual activity detected. Verify your account immediately."
Utility companies: Texts claiming your energy credit is ready to claim, or your direct debit has failed.
⚠ Watch out for
Urgent language: "Act now", "Within 24 hours", "Or your account will be suspended"
A link that doesn't match the real organisation's website
A request to enter your full bank details, password, or PPS number
You weren't expecting the message
2
WhatsApp Family Scams ('Hi Mum' / 'Hi Dad')
Fast Growing
One of the fastest-growing scams in Ireland. You receive a WhatsApp message from an unknown number: "Hi Mum, I've broken my phone, this is my new number. I need you to transfer some money urgently." These messages are convincing because they use emotional pressure and urgency.
⚠ Watch out for
A message from a new number claiming to be a family member
An immediate request for money — "I'll pay you back tonight"
Reasons why they can't call: "my phone is broken", "I'm in a meeting"
Requests to pay via bank transfer, PayPal, or gift cards
What to do
Call your family member on their old number before doing anything else.
Ask a question only the real person would know — not something that could be found on social media.
Never send money based on a text or WhatsApp message alone, no matter how urgent it feels.
3
Investment and Cryptocurrency Scams
High Value Losses
Investment fraud is one of the most financially devastating scams in Ireland. Victims lose an average of tens of thousands of euro. Scammers create convincing fake platforms — often using fake celebrity endorsements — and promise extraordinary returns with little risk. Losses from investment fraud in Ireland reached €31 million in 2024, up 121% in three years.
⚠ Watch out for
Promises of unusually high returns with no risk — "15% guaranteed per month"
Contact initiated out of nowhere via social media, LinkedIn, or dating apps
Pressure to invest quickly before a 'limited window' closes
They allow small initial withdrawals to build trust, then block larger ones
Celebrity endorsements — always verify these independently
You are asked to pay fees to 'unlock' or 'release' your returns
What to do
Check if the firm is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland at registers.centralbank.ie before investing anything.
If someone contacts you out of the blue about an investment opportunity, treat it as a red flag regardless of how professional it looks.
Never invest money you cannot afford to lose in any unsolicited scheme.
4
Fake Gardaí / Government Authority Calls
Targeting Older Adults
Callers pose as Gardaí, Revenue officers, or immigration officials and claim you are under investigation for fraud, tax evasion, or identity theft. They tell you your bank account will be frozen unless you act immediately. These calls are designed to terrify. They often use spoofed phone numbers that appear to be from official organisations.
🚨 If this happens to you
An Garda Síochána will never call you to demand money or ask for your bank details
Revenue will never threaten immediate arrest over the phone
Any caller creating extreme urgency and panic is a major red flag
Spoofed numbers can make calls appear to come from 999, Garda stations, or Revenue
What to do
Hang up immediately. You are always allowed to hang up.
Call An Garda Síochána directly on 999 or your local station to verify if the call was real.
Never transfer money to a 'safe account' on the instruction of an unsolicited caller.
5
Romance Scams
Serious Emotional and Financial Harm
Criminals create fake profiles on dating sites, Facebook, or Instagram and spend weeks or months building what feels like a genuine relationship. Once trust is established, they manufacture a crisis and ask for money. They never meet in person. Romance scams cause serious financial and emotional harm. Victims are often embarrassed to report them. There is nothing to be ashamed of — these criminals are highly skilled.
⚠ Watch out for
They are always overseas and can never meet in person or video call
Their profile photos look like model or stock images — do a reverse image search
The relationship moves very fast and feels almost too good to be true
They ask for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency
Any manufactured crisis requiring urgent financial help
6
Online Shopping and Fake Website Scams
Common
Fake online shops — often advertising on Facebook or Instagram — offer popular items at dramatically reduced prices: concert tickets, designer goods, electronics, or seasonal products. Victims pay but never receive the goods, or receive cheap counterfeits.
⚠ Watch out for
Prices that seem far too good to be true
No physical address or verifiable contact details
A website that was only registered recently (check whois.domaintools.com)
Payment by bank transfer only — no PayPal, no credit card option
Pressure to buy immediately: "Only 2 left", "Offer ends tonight"
What to do
Always pay by credit card or PayPal where possible — both offer buyer protection that bank transfers do not.
Check independent reviews on Trustpilot before buying from an unfamiliar site.
If buying tickets, use official sources or authorised resellers only.
7
Tech Support Scams
Targeting Older Adults
A pop-up warning appears on your screen claiming your computer has a virus, with a phone number to call urgently. Or you receive an unsolicited call from "Microsoft", "Apple", or your broadband provider. The 'technician' asks for remote access to your device, then either steals your data, installs malware, or demands payment.
🚨 If this happens to you
Microsoft, Apple, and your broadband provider will never contact you unsolicited about a virus
Legitimate companies do not use pop-up warnings with phone numbers
Never give anyone remote access to your computer unless you initiated the support call yourself
Any request for payment in gift cards is always a scam
8
Fake Job and Money Mule Scams
Legal Risk
Fake job adverts for remote work or 'payment processing' roles are placed on legitimate job sites. Victims are used to launder money by transferring funds through their own bank accounts. Even if you didn't know you were involved in fraud, you can face criminal prosecution.
⚠ Watch out for
A job offer that arrived out of nowhere via WhatsApp, Instagram, or Telegram
Unusually high pay for simple, vague tasks
You are asked to receive money into your account and forward it elsewhere
Any request to pay upfront before starting work
The 'employer' cannot or will not do a video interview
Important: If you receive money into your account and transfer it for someone else, you may be committing a criminal offence — even if you were deceived. Contact your bank immediately if you think this has happened.
9
Rental and Property Scams (Daft.ie)
High Value Losses
With Ireland's housing crisis driving intense competition for rental properties, scammers post fake listings on Daft.ie and other platforms at below-market rents to attract desperate renters. The "landlord" is always conveniently abroad or unavailable to show the property, and asks for a deposit or first month's rent upfront to "secure" the property before viewing. Once money is sent, the scammer disappears. These scams cause significant financial and emotional harm — particularly to young people and families already struggling to find housing.
Common patterns in Ireland
A well-presented property listed at significantly below the going market rent for the area
The landlord explains they are currently working or living abroad and cannot show the property in person
They ask you to pay a deposit or first month's rent via bank transfer before any viewing takes place
They may send a fake "Daft secure payment" link or a convincing-looking tenancy agreement to appear legitimate
Some scammers hand over fake keys or access codes after receiving payment
🚨 Key rules for renting in Ireland
Never pay a deposit or any money before you have physically viewed the property in person
A legitimate landlord will never ask you to transfer money to secure a property before a viewing
Be very suspicious of any rental listed significantly below market rent for the area
Verify the listing is genuine by calling Daft.ie directly if you have any doubts
What to do
Always insist on viewing the property in person before paying anything.
Search the property address online — if the same images appear on multiple listings or on international rental sites, it is almost certainly fake.
If you have already sent money, contact your bank immediately and report to An Garda Síochána.
Report the fake listing to Daft.ie directly so it can be removed.
Online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, DoneDeal, and Vinted are widely used in Ireland — and widely exploited by scammers. Scams target both buyers and sellers. Buyers are tricked into paying for items that never arrive or don't exist. Sellers are tricked into shipping items before payment clears, or are sent fake payment confirmation emails. These scams are extremely common and are growing rapidly.
Common scams to watch for
Fake buyer overpayment: A "buyer" sends a cheque or bank transfer for more than the asking price and asks you to refund the difference — the original payment then bounces, leaving you out of pocket
Fake shipping scam (Vinted/DoneDeal): A buyer insists on using their own "courier" and sends a fake payment confirmation — you ship the item, the payment never arrives
Fake payment email: You receive an email that looks like a PayPal or bank notification confirming payment — always check your actual account, not the email
Items that never arrive: You pay for something on Facebook Marketplace and the seller disappears after receiving payment
Too good to be true listings: High-value items (iPhones, consoles, cars) listed at a fraction of their real value
⚠ Watch out for
Any buyer or seller who insists on moving the conversation off the platform to WhatsApp or email
Requests to use an unusual payment method — gift cards, crypto, or "their own courier service"
Payment confirmation emails — always verify in your actual bank or PayPal account, not from an email
Sellers who cannot meet in person or who make excuses to avoid a face-to-face handover
What to do
For high-value items, always meet in person and exchange cash or verify payment in your bank account before handing anything over.
Use only the payment methods built into the platform — these offer the most protection.
If something feels off about a buyer or seller, trust your instincts and walk away.
Report suspicious listings to the platform directly.
The 5 Golden Rules
Five simple rules that will protect you from almost every scam — share them with family and friends.
1
Stop and pause before you act
Scammers rely on panic and urgency. If a message makes you feel you must act immediately, that feeling is the warning sign. Take a breath before clicking, calling, or transferring.
2
Never click links in unsolicited messages
Go directly to the official website by typing the address yourself. Find the phone number independently — not from the message.
3
Call to verify
If a message claims to be from your bank, Revenue, An Post, or a family member — call them directly using a number you already know. A real organisation will always be happy for you to verify.
4
Never transfer money on the basis of a message alone
No legitimate organisation will ask you to move money to a 'safe account'. No genuine family emergency requires an immediate bank transfer without a phone call first.
5
If something feels off, it probably is
Trust your instincts. You are always allowed to hang up, close the browser, or ignore a message. You can always check it first — that's what ScamSafe is for.
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If you think you've already been scammed, act quickly — we have a dedicated page with step-by-step guidance, key phone numbers, and exactly what to do next.