Gardai are asking the public to be vigilant over a new "cyber crime sex investigation" email scam.
The scam impersonates An Garda Siochana and it may trick victims into accidentally handing over thousands of euro to fraudsters. The fake email says that the individual who has received it is currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings as traces of their "identification data" has been found in investigations related to child pornography and similar offences.
However, gardai have said that they do not make contact with a person under investigation in this way. And they are urging anyone who has received this fake email to not respond and to not give their banking details.
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In a statement, An Garda Siochana said: "We’re aware of a current email-based scam/fraud where a person receives correspondence claiming to be from An Garda Síochána.
"The correspondence states that the individual is currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings as traces of their "identification data" has been found in investigations related to child pornography and similar offences. We do not and will not make contact with a person under investigation in this way."
Gardai have released the following fraud prevention advice:
- Don’t respond to any unsolicited email seeking personal, financial or security advice
- Never click on a link or attachment in an unsolicited email
- If you believe the email is from a genuine source, verify this independent of the email sender
- Independently (not the caller or texter) verify any requests for information and never use the contact details supplied to you by the caller or texter.
A Garda spokesman said: "It is very easy to have inadvertently or otherwise engaged with this scam or another similar scam, and subsequently found yourself a victim of fraud - do not hesitate to drop into or call us in your local Garda Station so that we can help."
Gardai have said that further information and advice on fraud prevention can be found at www.garda.ie
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