Irish WhatsApp users warned as scammers use official crest to pose as gardaí in new fraud

Gardaí are warning people across Ireland about a WhatsApp scam in which criminals are impersonating members of An Garda Síochána in an attempt to obtain sensitive personal and banking information.

The scam involves WhatsApp calls where the caller uses An Garda Síochána’s official crest as their profile photo in order to appear legitimate.

In a warning issued on social media, gardaí said they have become aware of a number of recent attempted fraud incidents linked to the scam.

“We are warning the public in relation to recent attempted fraud incidents where the scammer(s) are impersonating members of An Garda Síochána,” gardaí said.

They explained that the scam aims to trick people into handing over confidential information.

“Gardaí have become aware of a scam which aims to obtain personal information, such as bank account details, via a WhatsApp call, where the caller is using An Garda Síochána’s crest as their profile photo.”

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Gardaí stressed that genuine members of the force will never contact people unexpectedly looking for financial or personal details.

“An Garda Síochána Gardaí will never contact you out of the blue over the phone and request your bank account details.”

Members of the public are being urged to remain vigilant, particularly when receiving unsolicited calls or messages, even if they appear to come from an official source.

To protect yourself, gardaí advised people to:

• Be suspicious of unsolicited messages or calls
• Never disclose personal details over the phone
• Verify any claims by contacting a Garda station directly

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“If you are cold called from someone saying they are a member of An Garda Síochána and they are looking for bank details or your PPS number, ask them for their credentials and ring their Garda station to verify,” gardaí said.

Anyone who believes they may have engaged with this or any other scam is being urged to act quickly.

“If you have been the victim of this or any other scam, contact your bank or financial institution immediately and report it to Gardaí.”

Gardaí added: “If you believe you’ve engaged with such a scam, contact your local Garda station.”