Tens of thousands of euros lost in WhatsApp scam

A MIDDLE-AGED man in County Limerick has lost tens of thousands of euros in a bogus working-from-home scam perpetrated via WhatsApp.

Superintendent Paul Reidy, of Roxboro garda station, said the people behind it are scammers, out to take your money and “they'll stop at nothing in order to get it”.

Supt Reidy highlighted the fraud at a Joint Policing Committee meeting of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District. He spoke to the Limerick Leader following the meeting to alert members of the public not to fall foul of the same scam.

Supt Reidy said job offers to work from home are sent to people via WhatsApp.

“The scammers continue sending messages to build up a rapport, leading eventually to a situation where they get the person to click on a link to set up a particular account on the presumption that they're going to be able to work for this anonymous company processing goods, and things like that, from the comfort of their own home.

“It is done on the ‘promise’ that whatever transactions they undertake on behalf of this fictitious company generates commission.

“So money is transferred from your bank account for certain goods and then whatever amount you pay out, they'll pay you commission on that. They're pretending that you will be part of the business. They say you will get your money back and the commission on top of it at the end of the month. It's happening throughout the country,” said Supt Reidy.

He declined to divulge the exact amount defrauded from the victim from east Limerick only to say it was a substantial sum of money running into the tens of thousands that has disappeared in just two weeks.

Supt Reidy said when the innocent party began asking questions and looking for their commission there is no further contact and “they’re gone”.

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He quoted the old saying, if something is too good to be true, then it probably is.

Supt Reidy said messages from anonymous sources and out of the blue should ring alarm bells for every single person.

He urged people not to click on links on WhatsApp messages and exercise the utmost caution when transferring money and with regard to your bank account details.

The garda investigation into the fraud is ongoing.