How to spot a scam

Originally featured in Construction Management Ireland in Spring 2026 (pages 36 & 37). 

A scam is a dishonest scheme or plan designed to con you out of your money. Scammers increasingly use technology to catch people off guard, attempting to access bank accounts, card details, PINs and other sensitive information. Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated with technology like AI making it harder to spot what’s genuine and what’s not.

Fake online shops

Recently, there’s been an increase in the number of ads on social media posing as Irish shops selling online. The ads could appear as ‘sponsored’ posts on your social media feed, which means that they’ve been paid for. This can make the shop seem more genuine.

There are red flags to watch out for that could mean an ad you’re looking at is a scam:

• The ad is offering huge discounts (‘up to 80% off’)
• The name of the shop suggests it’s Irish owned and based, but you might not have heard of it before.
• The ad promotes a sad back story such as a family business closing down after many years.
• The ad promotes urgent action (‘sale ends today!’)
• The website/social media account was set up recently
• Reviews on the site are all five star

How to spot a scam shop

On social media

Never click on an ad on social media. If you’re unsure if an ad you spot on social media is legitimate, always check the business’s profile to see if it looks like a well-established business. The ‘About’ information on their profile should tell you when the page was set up and where it’s based. Look to see how many followers the account has, and if other details are provided such as a website, phone number or address.

On a website

You might see that a website has a .ie address and assume that that means it was set up in Ireland, but that’s not always the case. Registration of a .ie address normally requires proof of an Irish connection, but scammers can still spoof Irish identity or mislead consumers. Under consumer law, a business operating in the EU must provide contact details, so check for a physical address, phone number and email. You can check Google Maps to see if the business is where it says it is. Look up independent review sites to see what others are saying about the business such as Trustpilot.

Know your rights

When you buy online from companies based in the EU, you are protected by strong consumer protection laws. These laws also apply to businesses that are based outside the EU if they’re actively advertising their products to EU consumers, but it can take longer and be more complicated to resolve issues.

Advice from the CCPC

There are many ways scammers will target people but no matter how, remember the following 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 businesses or companies you know and trust. Whenever you see a message calling for immediate action, that is your sign to pause.

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 click on online links or attachments, particularly if you don’t know the sender. Trust your instinct – if you feel uneasy about something, check first.

Check

If you’ve received a verbal or written communication that you’re uneasy about, contact your bank or the organisation the person contacting 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.

Scam University

Last year, the CCPC launched Scam University – a free online course dedicated to the most current types of scams, helping consumers to stay safe and outsmart scam operators. The course of short videos covers topics such as fake online shops, phishing, rental scams and more. Check it out at Scam University.

If you think you’ve been scammed

If you think you have been scammed online, contact your bank or card issuer immediately as they may need to freeze your card or account. You may also be able to request a chargeback for the disputed transaction depending on how your bank’s chargeback scheme works. A chargeback is when your card provider – usually your bank – agrees to reverse a disputed transaction. However, if you paid by bank transfer or instant payment, you are unlikely to get your money back.

You should also contact your local Garda station to report the issue as they are responsible for pursuing scam operators.