Gardaí warn about phone ‘vishing’ scam

Gardaí have issued a warning over telephone scams where criminals attempt to deceive people into providing personal financial information.

“Vishing” is where a criminal phones members of the public and claims to be a “security manager” from a well known store. If they decline, the “security manager” advises them to contact their bank or local Garda station.

The customer then hangs up and calls their bank or Garda station, not realising the fraudulent caller has not hung up and the call remains active. Consequently, the victim discloses their personal banking details to the fraudster.

Gardaí said they have received a significant increase in reports of vishing from all over the country since the activity was highlighted in July. The force has received reports of vishing where the targets have lost more than €38,000.

In a case reported in the last two weeks an injured party transferred more than €22,000 on the instructions of a person purporting to be a named Garda superintendent.

In another recent case a woman was directed to transfer €30,000 by a caller purporting to be a Garda superintendent but she checked with her local Garda station who confirmed that this was a bogus request and the transaction did not proceed.

Detective superintendent Gerard Walsh from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation said: "These criminals are targeting vulnerable, usually elderly people and I want to warn people to never give anyone details of their bank accounts or credit card numbers.

“Please remember that no genuine person or organisation will call and ask for your details. Gardaí are asking community organisations, relatives or neighbours of elderly people to help us to get this message across.”