Gardaí issue firm warning as 'very cunning' social media scam is detected in Clare

Gardaí in the Clare/Tipperary Division have issued a stark warning regarding a social media scam that has been doing the rounds online. 

The alert comes as gardaí are currently investigating a number of fraud cases, where injured parties were defrauded of €10,000 to €15,000. 

This scam is said to be in operation for several years and has been described as a "very cunning crime" by authorities. 

It begins with a friend or family member of the victims social media account being cloned. This is done so when messages are sent to the injured party, they appear to look real.

In reality, this cloned account is operated by an offender who is aiming to encourage the victim to invest in fake fraudulent scams with a third party. 

Gardaí say the scammer usually starts by sending a friendly Facebook message from the cloned account. 

Giving a real life example of the scam in action, Sergeant Caitriona Holohan of Ennis Garda Station recently met with a member of the public who was targeted by these offenders. 

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In this case, the engagement started as follows:

"Hello, how are you doing? Hope you are staying safe and healthy?"

If this message is replied to, a follow-up from the scammer typically tends to say: "It’s good to hear you are doing well. Things here are great too. I am a little bit on the excited side of things as well. I am blessed to be involved with an organisation called the Bill  Melinda Gates Foundation. I hope you have heard about them as well." 

These messages then continue to ask for money and usually sound both sincere and familiar. If you receive a message like this, it is recommended to call the person first before replying.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána in Clare said, "Do not engage online and if you believe that you have been a victim of this crime, please contact your financial institution immediately and your local Garda Station.

"The Crime Victims Helpline is a free phone service, you can call 116 006 for help, support or to receive information on victim support services. This is an independent service trained by volunteers who can offer advice and support. They can also advise of other victim support services that may be available," they concluded. 

Visit www.crimevictimshelpline to learn more.