Ireland Scam & Fraud Statistics
Ireland's payment fraud rose sharply in 2024, with investment fraud now the highest-grossing crime type, according to the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland and Central Bank of Ireland data.
Last reviewed: 7 July 2026
FraudSMART, the fraud-awareness initiative of Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), and the Central Bank of Ireland publish periodic fraud statistics. Reported figures cover payment fraud and specific fraud categories rather than an all-crime aggregate, so they should be understood as partial counts.
All figures below are in euros (EUR) unless otherwise stated and are drawn from official BPFI and Central Bank publications.
Key figures
Nearly EUR 60 million stolen from investment fraud victims over four years
Estimated annual loss to investment fraud in Ireland (four-year cumulative total divided by four)
Source: FraudSMART / Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (2024)
EUR 25.6 million (up from EUR 3.3 million in 2023)
e-money payment fraud in 2024
Source: Central Bank of Ireland Payment Fraud Statistics 2024 (2024)
Over EUR 44 million
Money laundered through money mule accounts (3-year cumulative, to H1 2024)
Source: FraudSMART Money Mules Survey 2024, BPFI (2024)
Over EUR 17 million
SME losses to email-related scams over two years to 2024
Source: FraudSMART / Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (2024)
Almost EUR 100 million in ransom payments from over 80 countries worldwide
EU-wide ransomware losses from a single Europol-dismantled operation (Hive), relevant to Ireland as an EU/EMMA participant
Source: Europol Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) 2024 (2023)
An estimated EUR 89 million in illicit profits from a single fraudulent online investment platform
EU-wide investment-platform fraud case coordinated by Europol and Eurojust
Source: Europol Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) 2024 (2023)
Losses in excess of EUR 115 million, leading to 184 arrests across 17 countries
EU-wide losses from the iSpoof spoofing-as-a-service platform
Source: Europol Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) 2024 (2023)
10,759 money mules identified and 1,013 arrests across 27 countries
Money mules dismantled EU-wide in a single coordinated action (EMMA 9), which Ireland participates in via An Garda Siochana
Source: Europol Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) 2024 (2023)
Key takeaways
- Investment fraud is now the highest-grossing crime type in Ireland, with nearly EUR 60 million stolen from victims over a four-year period.
- E-money payment fraud almost eight-folded between 2023 and 2024 (EUR 3.3 million to EUR 25.6 million), reflecting the rapid shift to digital payments.
- Irish SMEs are also heavily targeted: over EUR 17 million was lost to email-related scams (such as business email compromise) in two years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest fraud type in Ireland?
According to FraudSMART and the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland, investment fraud is now the highest-grossing crime type in Ireland, with close to EUR 60 million stolen from victims over four years.
Where can I report a scam in Ireland?
Scams can be reported to An Garda Siochana, to your bank, or via the FraudSMART website (fraudsmart.ie). The Central Bank of Ireland also maintains a register of unauthorised firms.