An Irish telephone number delivery scam in Limerick cost a woman a substantial sum of money after she disclosed her bank card digits, CVV, and expiry date to a caller posing as a financial institution representative.
Limerick Residents Lose or Protect Money from Fraud
- A Limerick woman lost a substantial amount of money after disclosing her banking card digits, CVV, and expiry date to a fraudulent caller claiming to be from a financial institution.
- In a separate Limerick incident, a man in his 70s avoided financial loss when his bank successfully intervened after his card details were compromised via a fraudulent text message link.
Phone Call Scam Targets Limerick Bank Account
A woman in Limerick has lost a substantial amount of money after falling victim to a fraudulent phone call, the Limerick Leader reported. An Garda Síochána said that the injured party received a communication from an individual claiming to work for a financial institution, and the call originated from an Irish telephone number.
The caller informed the victim that a suspicious transaction on her account required immediate blocking. The woman was then asked to confirm the last eight digits of her bank card, followed by the first eight digits, and subsequently both her CVV and expiry date. After the victim provided this information, a substantial sum of money was taken from her account.
Garda Warning Over Financial Institution Impersonation
Sergeant Michelle O’Halloran, Crime Prevention Officer at Henry Street garda station, commented on the incident. “This is a particularly concerning type of scam because the caller presents themselves as someone who is trying to protect your money, when in reality they are attempting to gain access to it,” she told the Limerick Leader.
She emphasized that a bank would never ask a customer to disclose a PIN, full card details, passwords, or one-time security codes over the phone. Sgt O’Halloran continued, “Never assume a call is genuine simply because it appears to come from an Irish telephone number or because the caller knows some of your personal details.”
She advised that anyone receiving a call regarding a suspicious transaction should hang up immediately. Individuals should contact their bank using the telephone number printed on the back of their bank card, or through its official website or app, rather than using a number provided by the caller.
Bank Prevents Money Loss After Cloned Card Incident
In a separate Limerick incident reported by the Limerick Leader, a man in his 70s received what appeared to be a delivery notification containing a link. Following this, he clicked on the link and entered his bank card details.
Sgt O’Halloran urged the public to exercise extreme caution when receiving unexpected text messages, particularly those containing links. She shared advice regarding such communications:
- Never click on links in unexpected text messages.
- Check delivery progress directly through the company’s official website or app if you are expecting a package.
- Never enter bank card details or personal information through a link received by text.
- Be cautious of messages asking for a small delivery fee or additional information.
- Never download an app at the request of an unexpected caller or text message.
“If you receive a suspicious message, do not engage with it. Delete it and, if you have any concerns, contact the company directly using contact details you have sourced independently,” Sgt O’Halloran told the Limerick Leader.
She advised speaking to a trusted family member or friend before making financial decisions under pressure. Victims of fraud should contact their bank immediately to secure accounts and investigate transaction recall, while also reporting the matter to Gardaí and updating compromised passwords or PINs.
