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See the Scam Behind the Screen

FraudSMART launches major campaign to warn consumers about social engineering tactics

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What is Social Engineering:

Social engineering is a scam tactic where criminals trick people into revealing personal or financial information by pretending to be someone they trust like a bank, delivery company, or even a government agency. Scammers use using familiar communications channels such as text messages, emails, or phone calls and often create a sense of urgency or fear, pressuring victims into acting quickly before they have time to think.

However, we are also seeing that many scams are no longer as rushed or obvious as they used to be, with criminals taking time to sound credible and build trust before asking the victim to act. That’s why it’s so important to pause, question unexpected contact, and look beyond how professional or familiar something appears before clicking, sharing information or taking action.

Majority of consumers receiving suspicious calls, texts or emails at least once a month

Scams are now part of everyday life for consumers, with the vast majority (85%) of Irish adults reporting that they have received suspicious calls, text messages, emails or online content at least once a month, according to the latest research undertaken by FraudSMART. The research forms part of FraudSMART’s awareness campaign, See the Scam Behind the Screen, which aims to highlight to consumer the dangers of social engineering, where criminals manipulate people into divulging confidential information or transferring money.

Picture of banker masked by phone screen. Text reads; See the Scam behind the screen. This is not Joanne from your bank. Protect yourself from text scams.

Picture of banker masked by phone screen. Text reads; This is not Joanne from your bank. Protect yourself from text scams.

“Social engineering lies behind many of the scams we see today, with fraudsters manipulating people into taking actions such as clicking a link or transferring money. They often exploit emotions such as fear and sympathy and may spend time building trust.”

Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, BPFI

Social engineering lies behind many of the scams we see today

Commenting on the research, Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, BPFI, warned that consumers are facing an increasing volume of suspicious communications and is urging people to remain alert when receiving any kind of communication.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent communications. Fraudsters can impersonate trusted brands, while advances in AI are making it easier to create convincing content at scale. Through our FraudSMART awareness campaign, See the Scam behind the Screen, we want to encourage people to pause, question unexpected contact and look beyond how professional or familiar something appears before clicking, sharing information or taking action.”

Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, BPFI

Picture of delivery driver masked by phone screen. Text reads; This is not John your delivery driver. Protect yourself from text scams.

Picture of delivery driver masked by phone screen. Text reads; This is not John your delivery driver. Protect yourself from text scams.

Key Findings from the Research show that on a monthly basis:

  • 85% of Irish adults reported encountering suspicious activity through phone calls, text messages, emails or online content.
  • More than half of adults (51%) said they encountered more suspicious activity than the same time last year.
  • Consumers most commonly encountered suspicious activity through mobile phone calls (61%), text messages (58%), and emails (51%).
  • One in ten reported clicking on a link in a text or email before realising it was suspicious.

Red flags

  • Respondents said they believed mobile calls and texts were suspicious because they came from numbers they didn’t recognise (48% and 46%, respectively) or they weren’t expecting them (35% and 39%).
  • The most common red flag for emails was an unknown sender (39%) followed closely by poorly written content (36%) and unexpected emails (32%).
  • One in four reported being suspicious of mobile phone calls, texts or emails because the communication appeared computer-generated or artificial (AI).

Protective measures

  • More than half of those who said they received suspicious mobile phone calls said they ignored the calls (55%), with 62% saying they blocked the number. Similarly, 65% of those who said they received suspicious texts deleted the texts while 55% blocked the number.
  • Two-thirds (66%) of those who received suspicious emails reported ignoring or deleting them, although less than half (44%) reported blocking a suspicious email address.
  • Only 15% checked to see if the company or website referred to in a text or email was legitimate.

FraudSMART’s Advice to Stay Safe:

To help combat these scams, FraudSMART is encouraging consumers to take five key steps:

  • Think Before You Click – do not click links, open attachments or respond to unexpected messages.
  • Check independently – Use the company’s official website, app or a trusted telephone number. Use Scamchecker.ie to check links and websites.
  • Protect your Financial Information – never share banking security codes, full PINs, or passwords. Your bank will never ask for them.
  • Block & Report – block suspicious numbers, emails and social media accounts, and report suspected scams.
  • Stay One Step Ahead – sign up for fraud alerts and advice at FraudSMART.ie.

What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted:

If you think you have fallen victim to a scam, contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card, or the contact details provided on your bank website. Reporting suspicious activity helps prevent further fraud and protects others from falling victim.

For more information and practical advice on how to protect yourself from different types of scams,
visit our Fraud & Scams page.