Gardaí in Galway offer advice on avoiding fraud online
Gardaí in Galway are reminding people to be vigilant of fraud when shopping or conducting business online this summer.
Fraud in Ireland is continuously evolving. With the rise of artificial intelligence, scammers are producing far more convincing ads, emails and fake websites than ever before.
"Everyone likes a good deal, and fraudsters will have a well-rehearsed story to explain the low price, don’t fall for it. So, when shopping online make sure you use trusted and reputable websites,” warned Galway Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Olivia Fleming.
"At this time of year, people are planning holidays and maybe trying to get hold of concert tickets – you need to be aware that the fraudsters are already ahead of you.
“What once looked suspicious is now highly professional – polished websites, cloned customer service lines and flawless spelling and grammar. In many cases, victims only realise they’ve been defrauded when it’s too late.”
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As algorithms continue to become more advanced, it is leading to people seeing more adverts on social media for products they have been searching for online. These often lead to more scams.
Ticketing scams also become more popular in the summer months, as demand surges to get access to sold out music gigs, festivals and sporting events.
Sgt Fleming advises everyone to research new sites through consumer review sites like Trustpilot.com the first time they use them. She also warns to never assume a person who has sent you an email, a text message or has called your phone is who they say they are.
Other advice from the Gardaí to avoid online fraud is to always log onto a website directly rather than clicking on links in an email or text message, using a credit card rather than direct transfers from your bank account and monitoring your bank account regularly.
"Don't be embarrassed if you have been scammed, always report crime to An Garda Síochána,” added Sgt Fleming.
“If you think you have become a victim of a scam, you should stop all contact with the scammer straight away and do not send any more payments. If you paid by credit or with debit card, tell your bank or card provider immediately,” she concluded.