Major Increase in Scams Targeting Irish Consumers

• •85% of Irish adults report receiving scam communications monthly.
• •Over half of respondents noticed an increase in suspicious messages compared to last year.
• •Social engineering tactics are commonly used by fraudsters to manipulate victims.

A recent report from FraudSMART reveals that 85% of Irish adults receive scam communications monthly, with over half reporting an increase in suspicious messages compared to last year. The most common methods of contact are mobile calls (61%), text messages (58%), and emails (51%). One in ten individuals admitted to clicking on links in suspicious texts or emails before realizing their nature. The report highlights the use of social engineering tactics by fraudsters to manipulate victims into sharing personal information or transferring money. The awareness campaign 'See the Scam behind the Screen' aims to educate consumers on identifying these scams. Key warning signs include unknown numbers and unexpected communications. The report indicates that many consumers are not adequately verifying the legitimacy of these messages, with only 15% checking the authenticity of the companies mentioned.