Gardaí say there’s likely to be an increase in scam texts from Frausters towards the end of the year.
So that's as Christmas shopping gets underway.
The force has launched a campaign warning shoppers of online fraud.
It's particularly as Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach.
Gardaí say there’s “no doubt” scam texts about packages and deliveries will increase in the next seven weeks.
So that's as scammers try to target Christmas shopping.
Chief Superintendent Pat Lordan says scammers are beginning to use Whatsapp:
"Someone got a WhatsApp message from a Pat Lordan but when they contact Pat Lordan it hadn't come from me at all."
"So it's like the text messaging, they may be moving into that area."
As we enter the Christmas and Black Friday sales period, consumers and e-commerce merchants will be particularly active online.
To help prevent fraud, @Europol has launched a #BuySafePaySafe campaign with golden rules of online shopping.
Learn more 👉 https://t.co/FoeaIcOSex pic.twitter.com/IoJ6NDisZn— Chambers Ireland (@ChambersIreland) November 4, 2021
The Consumer Association says many shoppers get stung when they’re asked to pay customs.
That would be for items they've often purchased from a shop on a DOT IE website.
CEO Dermott Jewell explains how to spot when you’re being duped:
"When it comes to estimated delivery times, if it's longer than two or three days they're certainly outside of the jurisdiction."
⚠️Your #rights don’t change just because something is on #sale!⚠️
Whether you buy something online 💻 or in-store 🏠 at full price or at a discount, if something is #faulty you are entitled to a #replacement, #refund or #repair.
Click 👉 https://t.co/hdkau4MsJ4 for more info. pic.twitter.com/ukow1B7sMV— CCPC (@CCPCIreland) November 3, 2021
Blogger Alicia Donnelly was scammed out of hundreds of euro when a scam site appeared as another, she said she’s
"Ah you feel like an idiot."
"You feel so silly, and there was no way of me getting a refund, so I just had to life with it.
"I was like *sigh*."
"So I haven't bought an expensive dress online since."
Gardaí who are asking consumers and shoppers to “Buy Safe, Sell Safe” as we head into the Christmas period
