Phone-based scams are on the rise across Ireland, with new figures revealing a nearly 300% surge in so-called “vishing” attacks between January and May this year, according to Allied Irish Banks (AIB).
The alarming increase comes as part of a broader spike in fraud activity, with AIB’s latest Fraud Trend report showing a 6% rise in customers falling victim to smishing (text message scams) and vishing (voice phishing) attempts. Losses resulting from customers unknowingly handing over their login details have also soared — up 67% during the same period.
“These are deeply distressing crimes that exploit fear, confusion, and trust,” said Mary McHale, Head of Financial Crime at AIB. “We’re continually enhancing our fraud monitoring systems, but collaboration across society is critical to combatting this threat.”
McHale added that AIB’s fraud helpline remains available 24/7 and that the bank is working closely with law enforcement, telecom providers, and the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) to track and tackle fraud trends.
As part of its awareness campaign, AIB has published a list of the five most common scams identified between April and June 2025:
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Text Message (Smishing) Scams:
These fake messages often appear to come from trusted sources like banks, government bodies, or delivery firms. Victims are typically urged to click on links or provide sensitive information. AIB advises never clicking links in unsolicited texts or sharing login or security details via text. -
Safe Account Scams:
In these cases, fraudsters impersonate bank officials and claim a victim’s account has been compromised. The target is then persuaded to transfer money to a so-called “safe account” — actually controlled by the criminal. AIB emphasises that it will never ask customers to move funds over the phone. -
Investment Scams:
Rising sharply in 2025, these scams offer unrealistic returns on bogus investment opportunities. Scammers often use professional-looking websites to appear legitimate. The bank’s warning: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. -
Holiday Scams:
With summer approaching, fake travel deals are luring customers into paying for non-existent accommodation or flights. AIB urges consumers to verify travel websites and avoid transferring money unless they are confident of the provider’s legitimacy — even for domestic holidays. -
Purchase Scams:
Online shopping scams are also prevalent, with fraudsters offering heavily discounted items that never arrive or are counterfeit. Customers are urged to shop only on secure, trusted websites and to be wary of suspiciously low prices.
McHale concluded with a call for greater vigilance: “Cyber criminals are constantly evolving their tactics. Awareness, education, and prompt reporting remain our strongest lines of defence.”
