Scams – what to watch out for
How scams work
A scam is a dishonest scheme or plan designed to con you out of your money. It will target your bank account, card details, PIN number or other sensitive information.
So much of our lives are online nowadays and scammers often use technology to target and catch you off guard. They are becoming very clever in how they use social media and technology like AI, and it can be very hard to spot what’s genuine and what’s not.
There are certain red flags to watch out for that could mean it’s a scam:
- someone you don’t know contacts you out of the blue asking you to confirm or give your personal and financial details
- you’re being pressurised to act quickly before it’s too late
- a tempting opportunity is offered to claim a prize or make money
- you get an email, or text message asking you to click on a link or attachment
- you’re asked to transfer money in an unusual way or open a new account
Top Tip
Scammers pretend to be from organisations or companies you trust. Trusted organisations do not normally contact you asking for your personal or financial details. If this happens you should hang up and call the organisation back on a number you know to be genuine.
Golden rules
Stop
Do not give out your personal information or details if you’re unsure who you’re talking to. Scammers will pretend to be from organisations or companies you know and trust. For example, banks, revenue, the HSE or energy providers. Whenever you see a message calling for immediate action, pause and look carefully at the message.
Think
Ask yourself, could this contact be fake? Has your bank or energy provider contacted you like this before? If something sounds too good to be true it usually is. Don’t ever click on any online link or attachment you’re uneasy about. Trust your instinct – if you feel uneasy about something, check first.
Check
If you’ve received a verbal or written communication you’re uneasy about, contact your bank or the organisation the person contacting to you claims to be from. Only use an official phone number or email address you trust and have verified independently. For example, you can call your bank by using the number on the back of your bank card or on your bank statement and check directly with them.
If you get caught out by a scam
If you believe that you’ve been scammed, contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Ask them if you can get the payment reversed through chargeback. They can advise you and place your account on hold. Your card may need to be cancelled until it is checked out.
You should also report it locally to the Gardaí.
