Ireland Scams: Bank, Online & Impersonation Fraud Guide
Common scams in Ireland and how to report to An Garda Síochána, the CCPC, and your bank.
Emergency number: 999 or 112 — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Ireland sees significant volumes of bank impersonation fraud, smishing (fraudulent texts), and online purchase scams. Criminals frequently pose as banks, Revenue (the Irish tax authority), or An Post (the postal service) to steal credentials or push-payment fraud victims into sending money. Investment and romance scams are also prevalent. Reporting should be directed to An Garda Síochána — either at a local station or via the online reporting portal — and consumer issues can be raised with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). Acting quickly with your bank gives the best chance of halting or recovering a fraudulent transfer.
Common scams
- Bank impersonation and authorised push payment fraud
- Revenue (tax authority) impersonation
- An Post parcel smishing
- Investment and crypto fraud
Tourist-specific scams
- Unlicensed or overcharging taxi services
- Ticket scams for concerts and events
Online shopping scams
- Smishing impersonating banks, An Post, or Revenue
- Marketplace and social media purchase scams
- Phishing emails targeting bank and email credentials
Job scams
- Task scams via messaging apps
- Fake work-from-home and data-entry job offers
Romance scams
- Dating-app romance and cryptocurrency investment grooming
Investment scams
- Clone firm and fake broker scams
- Crypto and 'AI trading' platforms
How to report a scam here
- Contact your bank immediately — use the number on your card, not one from the suspected communication
- Report to An Garda Síochána at your local station or via the online reporting service
- Report consumer issues to the CCPC at ccpc.ie
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) if your operator supports it
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card. Irish banks will never ask you to move money to a 'safe account' — this is always a scam. Acting within minutes of a suspicious transfer gives the best chance of a recall.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
How do I report a scam in Ireland?
Report to An Garda Síochána at your local station or via garda.ie. For consumer protection issues, contact the CCPC at ccpc.ie. Always report to your bank first if money has moved.
Is the Revenue Commissioners text asking for payment real?
Almost certainly not. Revenue contacts taxpayers primarily by letter and does not send unsolicited texts demanding immediate payment. Treat any such text as a scam and report it.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance