A man in Dublin has been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into a sophisticated sim-swapping fraud that has caused customers of an Irish commercial bank to lose around €200,000.
The man, aged 27, was arrested in Tallaght today by Gardai attached to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) who are investigating "sim-swapping, account takeover and money laundering". He is currently being held at Clondalkin Garda Station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.
Sim swap fraud is a fraudulent way of gaining access to someone's mobile number. It occurs when someone gains your personal information and convinces your mobile provider to transfer your phone number to a different SIM card.
Read more: Man arrested over theft of family car after baby left on roadside in Dublin
A garda spokesman said this morning's arrest came after an "extensive Garda investigation into fraudulent sim swap attacks targeting customers of an Irish commercial bank which incurred losses of approximately €200,000 and for which a man has been charged and convicted, Gardai at GNECB identified a supplier of SIM cards used to facilitate smishing/sim swap fraud."
The spokesman said investigations are ongoing.
Read Next:
Large sum of money stolen during daytime robbery at city centre business
Cannabis and cigarettes worth over €200,000 seized from 'car parts' boxes
Vans smashed in Dublin suburb as gardai establish 24-hour presence on road
Paedophile surgeon Michael Shine praises decision to drop cases against him as 'right thing'
Kildare attack victim Dylan McCarthy killed over row that broke out on pub dance floor
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox