Garda warn of scam targeting AIB customers
There has been a 132% increase in the amounts of ‘smishing’ reported to Gardaí for the first 20 days of January 2021 as against the first 20 days of January, 2020.
An Garda Síochána and Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. have reported seeing a large increase in ‘smishing’ attacks customers in the past month.
There has been a 132% increase in the amounts of ‘smishing’ reported to Gardaí for the first 20 days of January 2021 as against the first 20 days of January, 2020. This will rise considerably more once more and more people realise that they were the victims of a fraud.
During January fraudsters have been sending texts purporting to be from AIB and advising the recipient to click a review or block a fraudulent transaction or advise the person that they have been locked out of their account.
The text encourages clicking on a link and asks to input codes from their Card Reader or divulge their One Time Passcode (OTP). This information is sufficient for the fraudster to access the person’s account and transfer money out.
An image of an example of the type of texts are attached to this press release.
Gardaí and AIB would like to advise account holders, as follows:
• Never disclose their Registration Number or Personal Access Code (PAC) or card information after clicking a link on a text.
• Never generate codes from their AIB Card Reader to cancel transactions.
• Never divulge their One Time Passcode (OTP) to cancel transactions.
• AIB will never ask you not to log back into your account.
• AIB will never ask you to click on a link.
If anyone has received such a call or text message and have disclosed any information, they should contact AIB immediately.
AIB customers can find out more information and advice from the Banks website.
Similar frauds may be perpetrated against customers of other Banks and the same advice applies.
These frauds cannot occur without the co-operation of people who allow their accounts to be used – so called Money Mules.
Acting as a money mule is very serious offence. The offence is contrary to the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010 and carries a 14 year prison sentence.