Our Campaigns
FraudSMART aims to raise consumer and business awareness of the latest financial fraud activity and trends and provide simple and impartial advice on how best you can protect yourself and your resources.
Is your business FraudSMART?
Unfortunately, while fraudsters target businesses of all sizes, SMEs can be particularly vulnerable compared to larger companies due to more limited resources, less investment in security infrastructure as well as lower financial buffers to withstand any losses. Fraudsters take advantage of busy work schedules and create a sense of urgency in the hope that an employee will react without thinking and won’t take the time to do necessary checks. Find out how to protect your business here.
Investment scams
An investment scam occurs when a criminal tricks someone into investing money to a scheme or venture that does not exist, ultimately transferring funds to the fraudster’s account. Fraudsters often advertise investment opportunities online, through social media adverts or generic comparison websites and commonly imitate a legitimate brand. The scams promise attractive returns that are usually higher than other retail investment opportunities.
Don’t be a mule!
A money mule is someone recruited by fraudsters to transfer stolen money between accounts. Young people and students are often targeted by criminals. We are teaming up with the Union of Students of Ireland, to alert students to the risks and how to avoid getting involved in fraud. As well as the prospect of a prison sentence and a criminal record, those who are caught will have their bank account closed, will have difficulty getting loans or even a phone contract and entry into countries such as Australia or the United States will be denied.