No further deaths and four fatalities ‘de-notified’, warning as cyber-criminals target Kilkenny ‘staycationers’

There have been no further coronavirus-related deaths as just 11 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed this evening.

Meanwhile, four previously recorded deaths have also been “de-notified”, bringing the overall death toll as a result of the virus here to 1,738.

Some 11 new cases were reported,  but seven cases have also been de-notified, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 25,542.

The latest positive news was confirmed as gardai warned of a significant rise in the level of fraudulent emails and text messages tricking people into sharing personal banking details.

An Garda Siohána has also issued a warning to ‘staycationers’ who are being targeted by cyber criminals on fake websites purporting to sell holiday equipment.

The bogus websites advertise caravans, campervans and small pleasure boat sales in a bid to defraud people. The websites ask potential purchasers to send a deposit in advance of a sale but the purchaser never receives what they have paid for.

Detective Chief Superintendent Patrick Lordan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau told RTÉ: “The criminal gangs behind these scams are very organised. At the moment we are seeing quite a substantial amount of people looking to buy a new camper van, a new caravan, or a new small pleasure boat. Obviously, a lot of people plan to holiday in Ireland this year.

“We have seen websites set up – bogus websites, cloned websites – and the criminal gangs behind them are asking people to send them a deposit for a new campervan, or new boat, and lo and behold they never see the product and the money is gone.”