An RTE radio listener has hit out at scammers after the tragic death of their sister.
The listener revealed how their sister took her own life after she was tricked into borrowing to invest while facing financial difficulties.
Gardai have issued a stark warning about the sharp rise in investment fraud and cryptocurrency scams.
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In the email, read out by Ryan Tubridy on his show this morning, the heartbroken sibling said: "My sister had difficulties with anxiety and depression. Sadly she took her life recently.
"On investigation, we found out most of her correspondence and emails in the last week were left unread bar correspondence where she realised she had been scammed into borrowing to invest.
"She was likely too embarrassed to share and had likely dug a hole into further financial difficulties."
They added: "It’s hard to think straight in those scenarios. Scamming vulnerable people can be like killing them in a slow, painful, and cruel manner.
"We need to speak out about these things to raise awareness of scams and share no matter how embarrassing nothing is worth your life."
Over €12 million was stolen as part of this type of fraud in 2021 which was a whopping 70% increase on the previous year.
The RTE presenter said that he had been approached by people saying his face kept coming up in ads for cryptocurrency.
He said: "I want to make this abundantly clear this morning. I have nothing to do with these ads you see. Not one thing. This is scam.
"We are living in a generation of scams. The internet is alive and thriving with cruel scams."
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