CASHING IN Crime gangs running sophisticated scams are making millions off Irish victims
Eamon Dillon, 15 May 2021
Ireland is being swamped by criminal gangs running widespread scams that are raking in millions in profits.
Targeting individuals and commercial firms, fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated and are constantly changing their tactics. Last month, 163 people reported attempts by fraudsters to trick them into handing over personal details – five times the level compared the same period in 2019.
The latest activity comes despite dozens of arrests made in the last 12 months by officers from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau investigating organised fraud gangs.
These include money-mules at the bottom the ladder, who allow their bank accounts to be used by fraudsters to transfer stolen cash. But suspected senior players in international scams have also been targeted by the specialist unit, which works in co-operation with other police agencies and Europol.
