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Fraud Alert: Department of Social Protection and An Post warning in relation to sophisticated phishing scams

In light of SMS smishing scams currently targeting members of the public by means of contact via unsolicited text messages to their mobile phones from an unknown mobile number, allegedly linked to the Department of Social Protection and An Post, both the Department of Social Protection and An Post have today issued warnings to their customers to be vigilant in relation to clicking on links contained in unsolicited text messages.

Such links can take the customer to false websites which are being used by criminals in real time to steal customer details and process fraudulent payments.

FraudSMART Advice

In light of the warnings issued by the Department of Social Protection and An Post today in relation to sophisticated phishing scams, we take this opportunity to issue the following reminder in relation to protecting yourself from unsolicited text/ SMS messages:

  • Do not respond to unsolicited text / SMS messages before independently validating that it is who it says it is from. You can do this by contacting the organisation from whom the message purports to be from to validate the message.
  • Do not use a phone number given to you in the text (this could be a fake number).
  • Do not click on a link or attachment from unsolicited emails or text messages.
  • Never give away personal information, bank account details or security details such as your PIN or online password to anyone.
  • If you think you have responded to a Smishing text message, contact the relevant organisation that the message was purportedly from immediately.