Gardai have warned the public that a new e-mail summons scam is circulating.
The scam impersonates An Garda Siochana and may trick victims into handing over thousands of euro. The fraudulent e-mail tells the receiver that following surveillance on the internet, they have been identified as a sex-offender.
It continues by saying that in order to "avoid appearing before the public prosecutor" and being filed "as a sex offender", the receiver of the e-mail must pay a "fixed criminal fine of €5,879".
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The fraudsters then say if the person "refuses to cooperate or refuse to say so, we will have to resort to criminal proceedings".
In a statement, An Garda Siochana said: "Gardai are advising the public of an E-mail based scam/fraud currently circulating. An Garda Síochána does not and will not make contact with a person under investigation in this way."
You can find further garda fraud prevention advice here.
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