Financial scams are one of the fastest-growing crimes in Ireland, and people over 50 are disproportionately targeted. Not because they’re gullible. Because scammers know that older adults are more likely to answer phone calls from unknown numbers, may be less familiar with the latest digital tactics, and often have savings or pension income worth stealing.
The figures are sobering. Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) reported authorised push payment fraud losses exceeding €85 million in 2025, with a significant proportion of victims aged 55 and over. And those are just the reported cases. Many people feel too embarrassed to come forward, which means the real numbers are almost certainly higher.
Understanding how these scams work is the single best defence against them. Here’s what to watch for, what to do if it happens, and where to get help.
TL;DR
- Phone scams (“vishing”), text message scams (“smishing”), and email scams (“phishing”) are the most common types targeting older adults in Ireland
- No legitimate bank, government body, or An Garda Síochána will ever ask for your PIN, passwords, or full banking details by phone, text, or email
- Doorstep scams and romance scams are also on the rise, particularly affecting people living alone
- If you suspect a scam, contact your bank immediately, report to the Gardaí, and don’t feel ashamed. Scammers are sophisticated criminals, not casual tricksters
- Talk to family members openly about scams. The more people discuss them, the harder they are to pull off
Phone Scams: The Call That Sounds Official
Phone scams, sometimes called “vishing” (voice phishing), remain the most common type targeting older adults. The caller pretends to be from your bank, Revenue, An Garda Síochána, or a technology company like Microsoft.
Common variations include:
The “fraud alert” call. Someone claiming to be from your bank’s fraud department says suspicious activity has been detected on your account. They ask you to “verify” your details by providing your account number, PIN, or card details. They may even ask you to transfer money to a “safe account.” No bank will ever do this. Ever.
The Revenue call. A caller says you owe unpaid tax and face immediate legal action unless you pay right away, often by gift card or bank transfer. Revenue will never contact you by phone demanding immediate payment. They communicate by post through myAccount or ROS.
The tech support call. Someone says they’re from Microsoft or your broadband provider and that your computer has a virus. They ask you to grant remote access to your device. Once in, they can install malware, steal passwords, or lock you out until you pay a ransom.
What to do: Hang up. If you think the call might be genuine, look up the organisation’s official number yourself (don’t use any number the caller gives you) and ring them back. A real bank or government body will never mind you hanging up and calling back to verify.
Text Message Scams: The Urgent SMS
“Smishing” (SMS phishing) has exploded in Ireland in recent years. You receive a text that appears to come from your bank, An Post, Revenue, or a delivery company. It typically includes a link and an urgent instruction: “Your account has been locked,” “Your parcel couldn’t be delivered,” or “You have a tax refund pending.”
The link takes you to a convincing-looking website that asks for your login details, card numbers, or personal information. These fake sites can be remarkably realistic, sometimes nearly identical to the real thing.
Key rule: Never click links in unexpected text messages. If you need to check something with your bank or An Post, open their app or type their website address directly into your browser. Legitimate organisations will never ask you to enter sensitive information via a text message link.
Email Scams: The Convincing Message
Phishing emails have become increasingly sophisticated. Gone are the days of obvious Nigerian prince messages riddled with spelling errors. Modern phishing emails can perfectly replicate your bank’s branding, use your actual name, and create a genuine sense of urgency.
Watch for: unexpected emails asking you to “update your details” or “verify your account”; emails with attachments you weren’t expecting (particularly .zip files or documents asking you to “enable macros”); and emails from addresses that look almost right but have subtle differences (like “[email protected]” instead of an official AIB address).
Key rule: If in doubt, don’t click. Forward suspicious emails to your bank’s fraud team (most Irish banks have dedicated reporting addresses) and delete them.
Doorstep Scams: The Friendly Stranger
These tend to target people living alone, particularly in rural areas. Someone arrives at your door offering to do work on your house, driveway, or garden. They may claim to have noticed a problem with your roof or that they have leftover materials from a job nearby.
The work, if done at all, is typically poor quality and massively overpriced. In some cases, they’ll ask for payment upfront and never return. In others, they’ll gain access to your home under the pretence of needing a glass of water and steal valuables.
What to do: Never engage with unsolicited callers offering services. If you need work done on your home, get recommendations from people you trust and always get written quotes from registered tradespeople. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has guidance on hiring tradespeople safely.
Romance Scams: The Long Con
This is a particularly cruel form of fraud that targets people who may be lonely, recently bereaved, or newly single. Scammers create fake profiles on dating sites, social media, or even words-with-friends-type apps. They build a relationship over weeks or months, establishing trust and emotional connection.
Eventually, they ask for money. There’s always a story: a medical emergency, a business problem, travel costs to come and visit. The requests start small and escalate. Victims can lose tens of thousands of euro before they realise what’s happening, and the emotional damage can be as devastating as the financial loss.
Warning signs: Someone who quickly professes strong feelings, avoids video calls, always has reasons they can’t meet in person, and eventually asks for money. No matter how genuine the connection feels, never send money to someone you haven’t met face to face.
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
First and most importantly: don’t blame yourself. These are professional criminals who manipulate people for a living. Being scammed says nothing about your intelligence. It happens to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Step 1: Contact your bank immediately. If you’ve shared banking details or made a transfer, ring your bank’s fraud line straight away. The sooner you act, the better the chance of recovering funds. Most Irish banks have 24-hour fraud lines.
Step 2: Report to An Garda Síochána. File a report at your local Garda station or contact the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB). Even if you think nothing can be done, the report helps build intelligence that can prevent others from being targeted.
Step 3: Report to the CCPC. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission tracks scam trends and issues public warnings. Report online at ccpc.ie.
Step 4: Talk to someone. The emotional impact of being scammed can be significant. Talk to a trusted family member or friend. ALONE’s support line (0818 222 024) offers confidential support for older adults, and the Samaritans (116 123) are available around the clock if you’re feeling distressed.
Protecting Yourself: Practical Steps
- Take your time. Scammers create urgency. Any legitimate organisation will give you time to think. If someone pressures you to act immediately, that’s a red flag.
- Verify independently. If someone contacts you claiming to be from your bank, hang up and call the number on the back of your bank card.
- Never share PINs or passwords. No bank, Garda, or government body will ever ask for these. Full stop.
- Keep software updated. Make sure your phone and computer install security updates. These patches fix vulnerabilities that scammers exploit.
- Talk about it. Discuss scams with family and friends. The more openly we talk about them, the less shame people feel, and the more likely they are to check before falling victim.
- Use strong, unique passwords. A password manager can help. If that feels too technical, even writing unique passwords in a physical notebook kept in a secure place is better than reusing the same password everywhere.
Resources
- FraudSMART (fraudsmart.ie) — BPFI’s fraud awareness initiative with guides and alerts
- CCPC (ccpc.ie) — Consumer protection and scam reporting
- ALONE (alone.ie, 0818 222 024) — Support for older adults
- Age Action (ageaction.ie) — Information and advocacy
- An Garda Síochána — Report fraud at your local station or contact GNECB
Staying informed is the best protection. At Críonna Health, we believe that knowledge and community are the strongest shields against those who would take advantage. Share this article with someone who might find it useful. A conversation today could prevent a loss tomorrow.
📷 Photo by Nazlıcan Boztaş on Unsplash
