ALERT: Fraudsters targeting Kilkenny householders in new text scam

By COLIN BARTLEY

FRAUDSTERS are targeting Kilkenny householders as part of a sophisticated new text scam, known as ‘smishing’.

Gardai warned people have been receiving scam texts, claiming to be from your bank. It asks people to click a website link asking people to “verify”, “update” or to “reactivate” their account.

The text may also ask people to call a specified number. Gardai said banks and financial institutions would never send a text requesting information to access a bank account.

Some banks have also sent out warnings to their customers stating they would never ask for access to a bank account by method of text.

A Garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána supported by the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) are advising consumers to be on the alert to a text message or ‘smishing’ scam in which victims receive a text appearing to be from their bank asking them to confirm personal details or click on links to unfreeze their account.”