{"id":24829,"date":"2021-03-09T16:05:48","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T15:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.factorfocus.ie\/?p=24829"},"modified":"2021-03-09T16:34:35","modified_gmt":"2021-03-09T15:34:35","slug":"gardai-warn-of-increase-in-cyber-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.factorfocus.ie\/index.php\/gardai-warn-of-increase-in-cyber-fraud\/24829","title":{"rendered":"Garda\u00ed warn of increase in cyber fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"

The combined number of phishing, vishing and smishing frauds reported in Ireland during 2020 increased by 80 per cent over the year previous.<\/p>\n

According to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the value of reported cyber crimes last year is estimated to be over \u20ac640,000, with as much as \u20ac53,000 stolen in one case alone.<\/p>\n

Forty-five incidents of phishing (phone call), vishing (email) and smishing (text) frauds were reported in the first week of February 2021, according to Garda\u00ed. This compares to 13 for the same period in 2020 and 2019.<\/p>\n

This week (March 8-12) is ‘Fraud Week’, and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is advising members of the public to be aware of these various frauds.<\/p>\n

The most prevalent types are purporting to be from your bank, or other financial institution, where you are invited to click a link, which brings you to a cloned website, subsequently looking for your pin.<\/p>\n

Other personal data may be asked for, such as an address, date of birth, or PPS number.<\/p>\n

Garda\u00ed say Brexit and the pandemic has added a new dimension also, as the business model of the fraudster changes with the social environment.<\/p>\n

The increase in online shopping and deliveries has also created greater opportunities for fraudsters, Garda\u00ed add.<\/p>\n

The Advice from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) is:<\/p>\n