Online Scams & Fraud in Ireland

Online scams and fx foreign exchange trading websitefraud have become a pressing concern in the digital age, and Ireland is not immune to these nefarious activities. As technology advances and more individuals engage in online transactions, cybercriminals have adapted their tactics to exploit unsuspecting victims.

In this review, we will shed light on some of the popular scams prevalent in Ireland, including investment fraud, business email compromise, romance scams, and account takeover fraud. 

We will also highlight where you can report scams in Ireland as well as where you can get victim support

Scam Statistics in Ireland

The key statistics on online fraud in Ireland, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance.

	2018	2019	2020	2021
Population	4.83 million	4.9 million	5 Million	5 million
Internet Penetration	87%	87%	92%	95%
# of Scams		7,944	7,818	249,200
Scams / 1,000		1.6	2	3.37
Money Lost		€ 7.8 million	€ 75.81 million	€ 24.96 million
Money Lost / Capita		€ 1.61	€ 15.18	€ 4.97
Money Lost / Report		€ 994	€ 9,696	€ 1,477.87

The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.

 

Download the Global State of Scam Report

Where Can I Report a Scam in Ireland?

• The Police- You can report any online scam to your nearest police station or by calling 999/112.
• The Garda Síochána- You can report any online scams and frauds for amounts less than €1,000.

 

Report a scam

How to Report a Scam in Ireland

Reporting a scam is crucial. At the moment, only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0.05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.

• Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other information relevant. This is needed to file a complete report.
• Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
• Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
• Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the FTI browser extension to warn you of scams.

Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.

Scam Victim Support in Ireland

You can get help at Crime Victims Helplinewhich is available countrywide and offers confidential services. Reach them by calling freephone helpline number 116 006.

How to Check for a Scam in Ireland

Of course, you can always check for scams on FTI.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well.

• The Central Bank of Ireland- You can check here, through the Consumer Protection Directorate, for financial-related and investment scams. Reach them at enquiries@centralbank.ieor through this form.
• The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau- They are tasked with investigating cyber crimes and you can check here for DDOS and malware attacks.

Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities

• FraudSMART- This is an initiative of the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) that raise consumer and business awareness of the latest financial fraud activity and trends.
• The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB)- They focus on the more complex and international and organized crime cases.

Scam News From Ireland

• Text scams are on the rise with fraudsters pretending to be road toll operators
• Galway shops warned to look out for cunning scam after Irish store stung badly

 

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