Limerick Gardaí warn of rise in text scams

GARDAÍ are advising the public to beware as reports of text scams continue to be made in Limerick.

The latest scam alerted by Gardaí is known as ‘smishing’, and involves victims receiving a text purporting to be from their bank and asking them for personal details.

Gardaí say that the message will typically ask recipients to click on a link to “verify”, “update”, or “reactivate” their bank account, or to reply to the text with personal information to “prove” the account belongs to them.

The messages will often convey a sense of urgency to get people to act without thinking, telling them that “your money is in danger or your account will be frozen”, according to Garda John Finnerty of Henry Street Garda Station.

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Garda Finnerty advised members of the public not to enter personal information or reply to any messages with personal data.

He also had some simple advice for people to protect themselves against the growing number of text scams.

“A text from your bank will not ask you for any personal information, only ever respond Y or N to bank text messages.

“Never respond to a text message that requests your four-digit card PIN, your online banking details, or any other password,” he said.

He also advised the public take the time to check who these unsolicited text messages are coming from before responding to them.