'At this stage you almost have to be paranoid with everything'
Garda urges people to be wary of all text and email notifications seeking personal details amid flurry of scams
LOUISE WALSH
A garda sergeant has advised people to be 'paranoid' with all internet transactions as the number of scams continue to soar.
Meath Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Dean Kerins is encouraging people to just pick up the phone and verify any texts or emails and never to click on links or give out personal details.
The advice comes after businesswoman Sinead C. Kavanagh said under her 'mattress was looking more secure' for her money when she almost got caught with a bank message.
Sinead who operates The Holistic Parent in Navan, Co. Meath said she clicked on the link when the text popped up on her trusted bank alert messaging list.
"I was driving when I heard the alert so I pulled up at the side of the road and read the text which appeared among the trusted messages you get from your bank regarding your account.
"I was a bit distracted and just didn't think. It stated an attempt to log in from a new device had been detected. As I'd just returned from holidays, where I'd used my card most of the time, I was caught off guard.
I clicked on the link and it directed me to a screen that was the mirror of the authentic banking screen.
"It asked me for three of my pin numbers, which is normal.
"However then it said the numbers weren't valid and to put in my six code digits. When I saw that, I just knew something was going on and rang the bank straight away.
"I'm normally very careful about these things. I'm the one banging on to people all the time about security but I got caught. I trusted the message because it came through on a trusted bank number.
"I quickly moved all funds from the account in question but was on the phone to the bank for one hour and 40 mins and no one could assure me that my account was secured.
"In addition, the person I talked to couldn't give me her details so I wasn't 100per cent sure even if the person I was talking to was actually from the bank
"We are relying and trusting big corporations with our money in so many ways and they can't seem to guarantee it won't be stolen.
"How did these scammers even get my phone number in the first place? The mattress is looking more and more secure as time goes on."
Sgt Kerins says that at a time when scams are growing more and more common, you have to be careful with every transaction you make.
"The scammers are getting better and the scams are getting more sophisticated almost on a daily basis. They are changing their ability to manipulate people and more and more scams will come on board in the run up to Christmas as people carry out more transactions online
"You can get caught, even if distracted for a minute.
"At this stage you almost have to be paranoid with everything.
"Don't click on a link, don't give personal details and if you are unsure about anything, pick up the phone and check. If in any doubt, kill the transaction straight away.
"If you are having work done at home and get a changed invoice, check it. Don't take anything for granted. It only takes a minute to click on a link and lose your money - and it only takes a minute to pick up the phone and validate any transaction request."
"There are certain people going to get caught and only because the scammers are so good. The numbers scammed aren't high but the rewards for scammers are. One hit could net them thousands."