Elderly Limerick man targeted in concerning phone fraud

A LOCAL man in his 70s has been targeted in a concerning case of fraud involving a phone scam.

The man was led to believe his bank account had been hacked. “A caller, presenting as a representative from his financial institution, persuaded him to transfer a substantial amount of money into another account,” explained Sergeant Michelle O’Halloran, Crime Prevention Officer at Henry Street Garda Station.

“Unfortunately, that account belonged to the fraudster. This is under investigation by Gardaí in Newcastle West.”

Sgt O'Halloran has advised people not to trust their caller ID and said banks will never ask you to move money to another account. “Fraudsters can ‘spoof’ a number to make it look like it’s coming from your bank. Never give out personal details, bank codes, or PINs over the phone.”

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She added: “If you get a call like this, hang up immediately. Then ring your bank directly using the official number which you have sourced yourself.”

“If you’ve been a victim of one of these calls or frauds, please do not be embarrassed – report it to Gardaí and your financial institution immediately.”