Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has called on the Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan to do more to protect Irish people from scam calls and texts from a Banking & Payments Federation Ireland report showed that people falling victim to this types of scams lose an average of €1,700.

Teachta Crowe encouraged everyone to be vigilant and adopt a sceptical attitude to these forms of communication, but said that Government needed to take greater action and be more proactive to protect vulnerable citizens.

Teachta Crowe said:

“The cost of text and call scams can be very high for people, especially now with the shocking cost of living increases we are all experiencing. According to the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland, the average loss to an individual through these scams is €1,700.

“This is something that I brought up at a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee last year because of the shocking rise we have seen in this type of crime since Covid began. It was up 60% last year alone and I would bet that the numbers will be a similar increase this year from the amount of anecdotal evidence I have heard and seen.

“We are all familiar at this stage with the scam calls and bogus texts that are going around. I have heard from some constituents that they are getting two or three calls a day and have experienced a number of them myself.

“Scam calls or texts may claim to be from the Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, An Post, banks, or a range of other service providers. They may have alarming or seemingly legitimate messages about social welfare fraud or customs fees or deliveries.

“They are designed to entice you into clicking a link and providing personal and payment information.

“Never share personal details such as your PPS number or bank details over the phone unless you are completely sure of who you are talking to. Do not be afraid to get a reference number if someone claims to be ringing from the Department of Social Protection or a bank so that you can end the call and ring their main phone number.

“While everyone should have a sceptical attitude to these forms of communication, especially if they come out of the blue, I am appealing to Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan to do more to combat the seemingly open field that these scammers have. The government must do more to protect the Irish people from these scams.”