SCAM ALERT

Clonmel Credit Union has warned the public about a rise in increasingly sophisticated scams targeting credit union and bank customers across Ireland.

The warning follows a notable increase in 'social engineering' scams, in which fraudsters impersonate staff at a financial institution via text messages, emails, and phone calls.

Pádraig Enright, CEO at Clonmel Credit Union, said the scams often begin with a convincing text message designed to manipulate people into clicking a link and revealing personal, login or account details. “Consumers across Ireland are constantly being targeted with such text messages, emails and phone calls, and we want people to know how to protect themselves.”

In one incident reported, a person received a text message stating they were eligible for a €1,500 energy grant. The message contained a link to a website designed to capture their personal and banking details. Shortly after clicking the link, the person received a phone call from someone impersonating a member of staff who attempted to obtain a verification code. On this occasion, the person recognised the warning signs and reported the incident.

The incident points to a trend across Ireland. According to the Central Bank, recent reports* suggest that fraudulent transactions increased by over 40 per cent in 2024, totalling losses of €66.4 million in Ireland

Text message scams remain one of the most common entry points. It is estimated that 57% of reported payment fraud originated from SMS messages, with vishing or voice phishing scams increasing by almost 300% in 2025.

Clonmel Credit Union encourages the public to become aware of common ‘red flags’ that may indicate fraud, including:

· Unexpected texts about grants, refunds, or urgent account issues

· Links requesting banking credentials or PIN digits

· Follow-up phone calls claiming to be from a bank or credit union.

· Requests to share one-time passcodes

· Pressure to act quickly

“Stop. Think. Check” is the clear message from Clonmel Credit Union today, as Mr Enright explains: “Our advice is to always verify a request by phone or SMS by contacting the credit union directly using the official phone number on our website, clonmelcu.com.”

Never share PINs, passwords, or one-time codes. If a phone call or SMS claiming to be from the credit union raises your suspicions, hang up immediately and call us directly. The most important thing is to keep your account details safe.  We are always here to help if anything feels off.”

Further advice is available on Clonmel Credit Union’s website, www.clonmelcu.com